Guardians of Stone (The Relic Seekers) (19 page)

She was tired, but too tense to sleep. And her body ached. That fall down the steps in the catacombs hadn’t helped. She tried a couple of bites of pastry but had no appetite. She took two Tylenol, and then found the scrap of paper from the old desk in the castle. She sat on the sofa and studied it, but didn’t get any further impressions. She’d have Roberto look at it later. Maybe he could tell her what it said.

She made a list of things they did know. The castle...rumored to be cursed—definitely haunted. They had found the box in the catacombs and lost it, probably to Thomas, yet still didn’t know what it contained or why Nathan was so determined to find it. Obviously, he wasn’t the only one. The cross...a key posing as a necklace. She hadn’t imagined that light flashing when she put it in the lock. Raphael...She had no idea what Raphael was or what his part was in this. But he was dead now. The statues...like some kind of laser fence. The ghost...Where did he fit in?

Jake shifted beneath the covers and Kendall watched him for a moment. He was a stranger, yet he didn’t feel strange. Then again, she’d spent more time in bed with him than she had with any other man in years. He rolled over, exposing a muscular arm with a tan line revealing his preference for T-shirts. He was good looking—gorgeous even—but he wasn’t any happier than Nathan. That shouldn’t have troubled her, but it did. She rubbed her head, which was starting to feel like a ball of cotton, and then gave up and climbed in bed beside Jake, clothes and all.

“No,” he muttered.

Did he want the whole bed for himself?

His breathing quickened. “No,” he said again.

She rolled over and saw that his eyes were closed, his brow furrowed. Kendall put her hand on his shoulder. His skin was firm and warm. “Jake? You’re dreaming.”

He rolled toward her, too close, and she tried to ease away.

“Don’t leave.”

If it had been a demand, she would have moved, but it was a plea and it nailed her to the spot. She turned over and relaxed against him, feeling his heart beating strong and steady against her back. But it was Adam she dreamed of when she slept.

“Who are you?” Nathan asked.

The old man walked slowly down the steps, his gaze moving over every contour of Nathan’s face. “I’m Marco. I’ve been waiting for you.” He smiled. His white hair was wild, and he had a long white beard that made him look like Moses. His robe, similar to a monk’s, was covered in dirt and something else. Blood?

“Do you live here?” Nathan asked.

“Yes.”

“You are Italian?”

He studied Nathan again, his eyes intelligent in spite of his appearance. “We are from all places. You are from America?”

“Yes. Are you alone here?”

“No. Raphael is here.”

“Raphael? Who is he?”

“A guard.”

“He’s your bodyguard?”

“No, just a guard.”

“What does he guard?”

The old man looked confused. He frowned. “The treasure. Raphael guards the treasure. And me.”

Nathan’s adrenaline started to spike and his skin warmed, but he controlled the urge. The last thing he wanted was to scare this old man to death. He might be the only link to Kendall and Jake’s location. “Where is the treasure?”

“It’s hidden.”

“Do you know where?”

Marco frowned and scratched his bearded chin. “I don’t remember where we put it.”

The old man must be senile. “What kind of treasure do you have?”

“Many things. Important things. We have to protect them.”

“Money?” A box? Had Jake and Kendall found it?

“There are coins.” He sat on a chair and scratched his chin again. “Jewels and gold, I think.” He nodded as if he had done something good. “Yes, and objects. Lots of objects.”

“Can you take me to Raphael?”

“I think he’s dead. Like the others. The statues killed them.”

Nathan’s heart lodged in his throat. Kendall and Jake? “There are others here?”

“The strangers. Raphael said not to let them see me.”

“Can you take me to them?” If it was Kendall and Jake, someone must have killed them here and then burned the car.

The old man nodded and started toward the door. He looked back to see if Nathan was following. The old man led him through the castle and they stepped outside. He could see the statue more clearly now. Farther away, he could see another one and another, just like in his dreams. He glanced back and saw the castle was camouflaged by vines.

“There.” The man pointed to two lumps on the ground, and Nathan’s chest filled with dread. It took all his strength to keep his adrenaline under control. He swallowed and started toward them, his feet like lead. When he got closer, he saw the bodies were covered by robes similar to Marco’s. Shoes stuck out from under the edge of one robe. A man’s shoes. Jake? He turned to the other body. It was completely covered. Impossible to tell if it was a man or a woman. He knelt beside it, heart clawing at his throat as he reached for the hood. He pulled back the cowl with a trembling hand, and he saw a man’s blackened eyes.

It wasn’t her. His relief faded as quickly as it had come.

But it could have been her. Just because there were no bodies didn’t mean she hadn’t been in the car. Someone could have pulled her out and taken her to the hospital. She could be lying in a morgue. “Did you see a man and a woman here?”

Marco shook his head, but Nathan’s relief was cut short. “I heard them,” the old man said. “Arguing.”

“Did you hear their names?”

“No. But they were looking for something. The man didn’t trust Raphael.”

Mistrustful. Sounded like Jake. “Do you know where they are now?”

“They left.” The old man’s eyes grew bright for a moment, and Nathan could sense the wisdom and intelligence that had once been there. “They’re in trouble. We need to warn them.”

“How do you know they’re in trouble?” Nathan asked.

“I know things. Where is your father?”

He must be confusing him with someone else. “My father is dead.”

“Yes. I’m sorry. I forget things sometimes.”

“Show me where you last saw Raphael.”

The old man led him back inside to a spot in the foyer near huge columns. There was a pool of dried blood, but no body.

“Did you bring the key?” Marco asked.

“What key?”

“To the box.”

“D
O YOU HAVE
the box?” the Reaper asked.

“We had it, but it’s been stolen,” his guide said.

“Stolen?” he roared. “I must have that box.”

“I understand. I’m searching for it now.”

“Jake must have taken it. Get Thomas to help you find it. He knows him.”

“I’m sorry, Thomas is dead. All your men are.”

“Jake. Damn him. I knew he was trouble. I should have killed him before.”

“I don’t think Jake stole the box. I think Thomas took it. He was a traitor. I overheard him talking to someone about destroying the box.”

“Thomas? He’s been with me for two years,” the Reaper said.

“Then with all due respect, I would be wary of any information he was privy to.”

“And you didn’t tell me this before?” The Reaper’s voice was low, menacing.

The guide shivered. He had to tread carefully. He had been hired to find the box, but what he was doing was very dangerous. The Reaper was not a man to be crossed unless the reward was so large it made the risk worthwhile. He wasn’t even sure he was a man. But greed was stronger motivation than fear. “I wanted to make sure before I told you.”

“Who do you think has my box?”

“I believe Thomas gave it to someone else before he died.” The guide had killed Thomas too soon, thinking the box was in his leather bag. Now he had to find it again. “I have an idea where it may be.”

“Maybe Thomas was working with Kendall and Jake. I’ll send others to help you retrieve it.”

“No. This is delicate and needs to be handled with discretion.” The guide couldn’t steal the box for himself if others were there. Thomas’s betrayal had played nicely into his hands. If this plan worked, only the highest bidder would know the box had been found.

Kendall woke, her head thick with dreams, and with Jake wrapped around her like a blanket. His arm was slung over her waist, his leg covering her thigh, and at some point he’d lost the towel. She pondered whether to move or stay. She wanted to stay, but that wouldn’t be wise.

Why not? He wouldn’t expect anything in return. No complications. Just a detour on her road to...where? She wasn’t sure where she was going. Nothing in her life had been normal up to this point. No reason to believe it would start now. What man would shackle himself to her, knowing about her
gift
? She might as well have buckteeth and a face full of warts.

“How did you sleep, my beautiful bride?”

Kendall jumped in surprise, accidentally elbowing Jake in the face. He cursed. She scrambled away and faced him. He was holding his head. He moved his hand and she could see fresh blood seeping through the bandage.

“You’re not much fun on a honeymoon.”

“I’m sorry. You startled me. How long have you been awake?” Could he have known what she was thinking? It was hard to
remember that others couldn’t do what she sometimes could. She wished she couldn’t either. Life would be much simpler.

“Not long. Why? Were you trying to seduce me in my sleep?”

Kendall shook her head and stood up. “What time is it?” she asked, stretching.

Jake looked at his watch. “Damn. It’s seven thirty
at night
. We rested all day.” He sat up and the sheet slipped low on his stomach.

Kendall looked away. “We needed the rest. What does it matter since we’re trying to stay hidden?”

“We have work to do before the trail gets cold. How about tossing me some underwear before you fix my head. Unless you want me to get them.”

“I’ll get them.” She grabbed underwear from his duffel bag, and found a bandage and superglue. She dropped everything on the bed and sat on the edge. “Why am I doing this? You can change your own bandage.”

“You hit me. It’s the least you could do.” He leaned back and watched her as she worked. It was unnerving being so close to him. The gray in his eyes darkened until they looked like a stormy sea. “You could do more than bandage my head.” His gaze was steady, not leering, a heavy look that made her feel as if she were caught in a hurricane. She was tempted to forget about caution and just see what would happen.

He must have seen it in her eyes. He lifted a hand to her face, running his thumb over her lips. His breathing changed, and she saw he was getting hard. There was a knock at the door and the moment broke. Kendall jumped, knocking the tube of superglue on the floor. “I’ll get that.”

It was Brandi. “How’s Jake?” She looked past Kendall to where Jake lay, hands over his lap.

“Good. But I was about to change the bandage, if you want to take a look.”

“Sure.” Brandi approached the bed. “You look better than you did earlier,” she said to Jake. “How on earth did the car explode?”

Jake shrugged. “I’m not sure. Faulty wires...”

“You were hiking there?”

“Yes,” Jake said. “It’s a good thing you came along.”

“Both of you were very lucky,” Brandi said. “You could have been killed.” She glanced at Kendall. “I’m surprised your injuries aren’t worse.”