“Let’s check on our captive. Maybe we can find out who he is and why he’s here.” Zane slung his rifle over a shoulder. “After that, we begin our search. Keep your eyes and ears open for anything that might indicate a way out… vents, side caves, cracks in the wall, a draft.”
As they walked down the cave, Reid drew alongside him. “Do you think they’ll come in behind us?”
“At some point, yes. I don’t think the gate and whatever is down here matters to Roger and Camilla Lawson, but it means a lot to Viktor and his loonies.”
They found the hooded man just around the bend sitting against the wall. His head turned in their direction as they approached. In addition to his wrists, Keiko had bound the man’s ankles with his own socks.
Zane crouched, untied the socks, and tossed them to the side. “I might be willing to do the same thing with your wrists, but I’m going to need a little information first. For starters, we need to know who you are.”
The man mumbled something Zane couldn’t quite understand. The hood muffled his voice. Emily took a step toward him, a frown spreading over her face.
“What did you say?” Zane asked.
“I said I’m not one of them.”
Emily let out a little gasp then turned toward Zane. “Take off the hood.”
Zane shook his head. “We need to—”
Emily seemed frantic. “Please, I’m asking you to take it off.”
Zane didn’t know what she was trying to do. He had a couple of questions he wanted to ask, and having the man tied up would facilitate answers.
Before he could give an answer, Emily lunged toward the man. Carmen grabbed her from behind.
“Let me go.” Emily tried to twist free.
Carmen squeezed her even more tightly and dragged her toward the center of the cave. “Emily, what’s going on? Why are you telling us to do that?”
Emily sobbed, her body convulsing repeatedly.
Zane stood and frowned. Something wasn’t right. He knew everyone’s nerves were shot, but this was something deeper.
Emily shook for a while longer, then her body seemed to relax.
Zane approached and gently grasped her arm. “Emily, why are you doing this?”
She wiped her nose and looked at him. “Because that man is my dad.”
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
Viktor sat in front of the gate, his back erect and his eyes shut. He was alone, save for several guards positioned a short distance away. The members of his council would be back to set up the circle soon. Until then, he would use the time to pray.
Unfortunately, he couldn’t shift his thoughts from all that had happened in the last hour. Although he wasn’t sure how they’d been able to do it, the prisoners had somehow managed to free themselves and kill several guards in the process. If it weren’t for his quick thinking, many more might have died.
Roger Lawson was solely to blame for the debacle. Roger should have killed them all when he had the chance. But instead, he’d decided to play games. Viktor seethed with anger. The Australian would pay once they were done here. For now, he needed to consult with the masters to see what they wanted him to do next.
Soft footfalls carried across the alcove — the council returning. A moment later, he heard them placing the votive candles around him, a necessary step in warding off unwanted spirits. After it was done, someone approached to within a few feet. Viktor slowly opened his eyes. Brutus, the most trusted member of his council, stood before him.
Seeing Viktor’s eyes open, Brutus bowed at the waist. “The circle is complete.”
“Thank you. Gather the others, and return to the city. Don’t come back until I call you.”
Brutus bowed again. “Yes, my lord.”
Once the footsteps died away, Viktor closed his eyes and waited. A minute later, a dark spirit slipped into his consciousness. Viktor felt its anger, and he trembled in its presence.
You allowed poison to enter our abode. The voice was like the hiss of a serpent.
Viktor’s voice shook with nervousness. “It wasn’t I who did that… It was the other one.”
We blame you because you invited him in.
“I’m sorry… please… I needed him to locate—”
We could’ve told you where it was! The voice was ominous, threatening.
“Please forgive me,” Viktor whimpered. “I promise I won’t fail you.”
The people beyond the gate must be killed.
“How… how will we do that?”
You won’t do anything! There was a long pause. We’ve released two merchants of death. They’re coming up even as we speak. Once their work is finished, you may enter, but not before.
Viktor was about to thank him, but the spirit had already departed.
He sat in silence. Viktor’s mind suddenly plunged into the dark abyss. Clouds swirled. An image appeared. He knew immediately it was no dream. Two dark figures moved through the cave. At first, the image was fuzzy, but soon, it sharpened, and their features appeared.
Viktor recoiled at the sight. They were horrifying beyond belief.
And for a moment, it seemed as though they were coming for him…
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
Carmen watched as Emily rushed into her father’s arms. Sobs followed in waves. She squeezed him tightly, as though she never wanted the embrace to end. Richard Pauling seemed as moved as his daughter, resting his head on her shoulder.
Emily pulled back and used her father’s sleeve to wipe the tears from her eyes. “I love you, Dad.”
“I love you too, darling.” He stared into her eyes.
“I never completely gave up hope. There was something inside me… I can’t even explain it. I felt you were out there somewhere.”
He held her face with both hands. “You were right. I was always there. And I never gave up hope that I might see you again.”
The two finally pulled apart, giving Zane the opportunity to make introductions and bring Pauling up to date on all that had taken place since entering the mountain. The archaeologist seemed shocked to learn they had passed through an underground city.
After Zane finished, Carmen asked, “Forgive me for being so blunt, but how are you still alive? I find it shocking you weren’t killed.”
“To be perfectly honest, I think it was because of you,” Pauling answered.
Zane’s brow furrowed. “Because of us?”
“Did you break into my home?”
“Yes.”
“That’s why I was spared.” Seeing the looks of confusion, he explained. “Let me start at the beginning. When I was first taken, they threw a hood over my head and pressed a needle into my arm. The next thing I know, I’m awake on a bed, surrounded by bad men with big guns.”
“Were you still in Venice?” Carmen asked.
“I believe so, but I can’t be sure. I don’t even know how long I was out. I could’ve been in Venice, or I could’ve been somewhere a few hours away. In any event, shortly after I woke up, they began to ask me about the map. At first, I resisted, so they made life hard for me.” He glanced at Emily briefly. “It got so bad I finally told them it was in a file at my house. I even told them which desk it was on.”
“Was that true?” Amanda asked. “We never saw a file lying out.”
Pauling shook his head. “No, but I thought it might buy me some time. I still held out hope the authorities would find me, or perhaps I’d find a way to escape. When your back is against the wall, you’ll always look for any little splinter of hope.”
Carmen nodded. Emily squeezed her father’s hand.
Pauling smiled at her. “Later that night, they returned, and I overheard them talking about what happened. They weren’t able to locate the file, so they assumed you took it.” He looked at Zane. “That’s what I meant when I said you saved my life. Had you not shown up, they would’ve known I was lying and might have killed me.”