Page 31 of Violet Legacy

Rieka shivered as numbness threatened to overtake her. She loved hearing Lilian’s stories.

“It belonged to the Atlanteans and the old gods, the Anki.”

“Do they still exist?”

“No. And you should hope they never return. They herald nothing but subjugation and death for anyone who crosses their path.” Lilian dropped to her knees. Water splashed up to Rieka’s chest, but she was getting used to the coldness. Lilian’s pale eyes looked white with violet streaks. “Promise me you will stay away from them.”

She scrunched up her face. “And the Atlantean Houses?”

“Yes, baby.” Lilian lowered herself to Rieka’s eye level. “We only have each other.”

Rieka nodded. Anything to stop the desperation in Lilian’s voice. If they didn’t exist anymore, why did Rieka need to promise to stay away? Rieka ignored the question in favor of letting Lilian hold onto her tightly for a second more before she stood.

“We are almost there.”

Rieka obediently followed Lilian, stopping in front of a column.

An upside-down woman’s face crowned with snakes stared at her.

“The humans call her Medusa,” Lilian explained. “Come over here.”

Rieka moved to stand in front of her mother. Lilian grabbed her hand, placing it on the cold stone. Her fingers traced the entwined snakes until she found it.

“Can you feel it?”

Rieka nodded as she continued to trace the outline of the flower. “It’s a flower.”

“It is the symbol of Vandana. Find the lily, and you will find your way home.”

For a moment, she wanted to stay in the memory. Rieka blinked and wiped the silent tears away. She clutched the photo to her heart as she mentally tried to imprint Lilian’s features into her mind. Lilian had disliked photos being taken of her, and Rieka had only a handful of them left. But even then, her memory was dulling and beginning to blur into one. Some days, she was mourning the passing of her mother a second time. She lingered on the photo for another heartbeat before replacing it. The slight breeze caressed her skin.

“Sinha, get your act together. The tomb will not find itself.”

Rieka turned the page. A charcoal drawing of an ancient temple stared back at her. Rieka counted fourteen columns. The structure looked like it belonged in ancient Greece or Rome, but it could have been located anywhere in the world. Black dots representing the constellations littered the sky. They were not in any pattern she recognized, but then she wasn’t an expert in astronomy. Nor did she care to become one. She half-lingered on the page and stared at the photo, lost in a daydream.

Knock.

Rieka scrambled off the bed. It was time for her visit to the vault. The smell of coffee wafted through the thick, wooden door. At least her escort had the sense to bring her caffeine. She glanced back to make sure the journal was hidden from any curious guests, invited or otherwise, and opened the door.

Green eyes met hers.

Dante.

Surprised was a mild understatement. She had assumed he would be far too busy to play her escort, but clearly, she was mistaken. The coffee was a bonus.

Rieka took the cup from him. Their fingers brushed, and the barest touch sent an electrical current through her. She ignored it. Ever since Dante had tried to supercharge her heightened senses at the airstrip, she was half-convinced it had worked. Well, at least every time she was in his company, and over the last twenty-four hours, that had been a lot. She was far too attuned to Dante and the way he made her feel—it would be almost stalkerish if she wasn’t careful. It would make a great addition to her resume.

Unemployed archaeologist. Wannabe stalker.

“Thank you.” She took a sip, using it as an excuse to take her fill of him. The Atlantean was far too handsome for her not to get distracted. “Delacroix, you keep this up, and I’m going to think you like me,” Rieka teased. She took another sip of coffee; it tasted like heaven. It really was the elixir of life.

“We would not want that to happen,” Dante replied, amusement edging his voice.

Maybe she was more tired than she had thought. Or maybe Dante Delacroix had just flirted with her.

“I promised you access to the crown jewels. They will be moved later this afternoon; this will be an opportunity to observe them without a glass cage for the next four days,” Dante turned and walked off but stopped after a few feet. “They are kept separately from where you were working yesterday.”

Rieka sipped the coffee as she continued to watch Dante. He did really fill out his clothing in all the right places. Broad shoulders were accentuated by his perfectly molded white shirt that just hinted at the muscles underneath.

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