Page 122 of Stilettos & Secrets on the 7 Seas

“It’s his gift, kiddo,” Sasha pushed past him. “There’s a tunnel. Let’s see where it goes.”

We followed Sasha into the tunnel. Rowan took the lead with one lantern, and Marco caboosed our train with the other. It wasn’t a dark, scary cave like in the horror movies; light filtered through crevasses in the ceiling and reflected off the limestone walls.

“It’s kind of pretty,” I said, running my fingers against the smooth stone and feeling a tingle. A sizeable spider crawled out from between two rocks, and I yanked my hand back, stumbling into Caiyan.

“We’re in a cave, Sunshine. Be mindful of the natives.” He righted me and interlocked his fingers in mine, leading me forward. We came to another dead end.

“So much for your good vibrations.” Sasha squinched her face. “If McGregor Hulks the rock in here, we could end up buried alive.

The parrot flapped its wings and abandoned Max’s shoulder for a rock ledge. “Gatekeeper. Squawk!”

“Can you do your Superman thing and get us inside?” I asked Caiyan.

“Superman, eh? I like the comparison, Sunshine, but I’m afraid Sasha is right about this one. ’Tis unsafe in a confined space to break through a solid stone such as this.”

Rowan held the light up next to the parrot. “’Tis a carving in the stone.”

“What is it?” Marco brought his lantern to add more light.

We gathered around, and Caiyan gasped. “My family crest.”

“Is that a handprint?” Sasha placed her hand inside a scalloped cutout in the rock. “It is. See how my fingers slide into the grooves.”

“Gatekeeper!” the parrot squawked exceptionally loud. Using its beak to scratch under the brightly colored wing.

We moved aside. Caiyan placed his hand on the stone. The wall trembled, and like some whacked-out version of an Indiana Jones movie, it crashed open.

Our jaws dropped. If it weren’t for the spiders and creepy crawlies, mine would have stuck that way. “I’m speechless. These things don’t happen in real life.”

“This is real life for us.” Sasha brushed past me and stepped over the fallen stone to enter the cave.

“Good job, dude.” Marco gave Caiyan a congratulatory slug on the back and walked through the opening. Rowan ducked in behind Marco, and the rest of us followed.

We walked down a passage that grew so skinny Rowan had to shuffle sideways to squeeze through.

We stopped short as we exited the narrow passageway into a cavern. The cavern extended deep into the ground with many chambers hosting stalactite chandeliers and stalagmite furniture.

An orbicular hole at the top of the cave allowed for a spot of sunlight. In the center of the cavern, a crystal-clear pool glowed fluorescent blue.

“’Tis one of the flower pools.” Max looked delighted.

The water swirling under the natural skylight beckoned me.

“God’s teeth,” Rowan said, holding the lantern high so its light reflected off the treasure surrounding us. It was as if the Spanish fleet had upended one of their ships into the cavern. Stacked against the walls and covering the cave floor were paintings framed in gilded gold, chairs, sacks of coins, cannons, anchors, a maidenhead shaped like a mermaid, and rows of ornate chests.

“How did they get all of this inside?” Sasha brushed a cobweb off a nearby chest and lifted the top. She scooped up a handful of silver coins and precious gemstones.

“Careful. It might be a trap.” Marco looked around the cavern for any possible threat.

Sasha dropped her fistful of treasure and groaned. “This isn’t a George Lucas movie. It’s been waiting on us.”

Max peered into the chest. His eyes widened, and he smiled at Rowan. “You’re going to be set for life.”

Max and Rowan did a fist bump and a complicated handshake I can only guess they learned from Ace.

“These are all from masters of the Renaissance.” Marco poised a graceful swipe of his hand toward a group of paintings. He pointed to the painting of a woman. “This one is by Leonardo da Vinci.”

My attention was elsewhere. We found the lost Spanish treasure, but where was the King’s key? It was here. I felt it with every bone in my body. Every step I took pulled me closer to the blue pool.

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