Her motives, after thorough analysis and discussion, were found to be in alignment with that of a terrorist. She had committed a crime against humanity on the deepest level, because why else would she want that dagger, but to stop us from undoing the atrocity she had taken part of. I might have believed it was a coincidence in the beginning, yet that flew right out the window when Erika and Serena were killed. The timing was too perfect. Sinking an entire nation gave new meaning to the term genocide.
I awoke shortly after dawn with a sore hand. My gun was still tightly clutched between my fingers, ready to take aim and fire. Jared stirred right after. I ran my hand across my clothes trying to smooth the worst of the wrinkles. We had slept in our clothes, more so because we might need to move in a hurry, and not out of modesty. A random stranger’s opinion held little credence with me.
All I needed was a cup of coffee and my hiking boots, and maybe a bottle of water, or two at this altitude. My experience with high elevations wasn’t an issue. I’m from New Mexico, a naturally already elevated state. It was mountain climbing that gave me pause. One misplaced step and it was lights out.
The shrine we were searching for was only a third of the way up Mytikas, one of the more prominent peaks in the Mt. Olympus range. That was still close to 3200 feet above sea level, high enough to kill should I fall into some chasm below. I would be broken as a ragdoll from that height. We should reach the base of the peak within five minutes.
I wasn’t suicidal, so our trek would begin once the sun fully breached the horizon. By the time we reached the Temple of Thanatos, it would be completely raised, lending us light for the actual investigating. Flashlights would still be necessary. From the pictures my mom texted me, the temple was carved into the cliff face and went back 40 or so feet. I took to using a headlamp to keep my hands free.
The base of Mytikas was sloped, with patches of moss and a vast array of scattered small rocks. Our ascent was more treacherous than how it had presented itself. More loose rock, some the size of gravel, covered the trail that had been created for hikers. A shrill call drew my eyes to a hawk circling in the sky. Dinner, or I guess breakfast in this case, must be in the vicinity. Scavengers, they were creatures of opportunity.
Interested in the sight, I failed to see a raised section of earth in front of me. My body tumbled to the side, rapidly gaining speed towards what looked like a canyon that sat beneath the ridge we were on. This is what I had been afraid of˗˗˗death by mountain.
An arm-wrenching tug stopped my descent. Jared held onto my wrist with all of his might. The other hand held onto a narrow tree trunk. He lay on his stomach, pulling me back inch by inch, until we were both able to stand.
“Holy shit, that could have ended badly,” I said. My adrenaline was still pulsing through my body. A slight shaking took over my limbs.
“Don’t ever scare me like that again.” Jared replied, his breath coming out in pants. He pulled me into his arms. “I can’t lose you dammit.” My shaking subsided.
Twenty minutes later we came face to face with the columned entrance of the Temple of Thanatos. The front façade was simple and linear in design. It reminded me of the ancient city of Petra in Jordan. That same three dimensional relief style was prevalent here. Headlamps turned on to full brightness, we entered the temple. The final clue to the puzzle resided somewhere within these walls.
28
In the scarce light I could make out rows of benches that had been placed in the temple for travelers to rest after a challenging climb. They were arranged to face a central point, a statue of a male, Thanatos I presumed. Remnants of candles and dried flowers lay abandoned at his feet. Furling wings cloaked the figure like a cape. If the statue had been painted, those protective appendages would most assuredly be black, since Thanatos was a personification of death in Greek Mythology.
A dank musk clung to the air, dry and stale, overwhelming to the senses. Near the rear of the chamber, two doorways were cut into the wall. They must lead to the secondary worship space, where the bleeding column should reside.
Smaller than the primary chamber, this room held sparsely placed benches as well, although in poorer condition. The tourism department must not make very frequent trips up here for repairs. Knowing most places, the bottom line is what they were worried about.
Miniature versions of Thanatos sat on a ledge that ran the length of the back wall. A beam of light shone down from an opening in the ceiling. That explained the musk. Rainwater got trapped after a good storm and sat stagnant without any place to run.
Specks of dust floated like snow within the narrow shaft. Directed by its downward travel, I came face to face with an angular stone well about four feet in diameter. The opening was halfway obscured by a slab shelf that housed a set of three columns on top of it. All were constructed with Doric style Pedestals and Capitals, the smooth, rounded, simplistic supports adding a touch of elegance.
Among the trio, the central column was larger and more robust than its partners. Wave like carvings ran up and down the shaft, flowing like a waterfall. Notches in the stone formed a similar pattern. I bet that’s where the rubies and garnets had been inserted. Like my mom explained, I didn’t see any gems remaining. Looters had taken off with them. Had the column been bestowed with its full grandeur, it would look like cascading blood.
“Is that it?” Jared asked, eyeballing the column with interest.
“Yeah, except that it’s missing all the rubies and garnets that adorned it many years ago. Doesn’t look much like a bleeding column without them, does it?”
“Considering when it was most likely erected, those precious stones would be long gone by now.” Exactly as how my mom had suspected we would find it˗˗˗she was right of course.
“That pretty much sums up what my mom described.”
I removed the Visulumina from my backpack, perhaps for the last time, well for this purpose that is. Like with previous discoveries, Jared took over the task of lighting the wick of the candle that we had been placing inside of the lantern. The colorful glass panes glowed brightly, illuminating the chamber with pink, red, and turquoise light. Jewel tones cast patterned shadows on the walls from the decorative crown of the lantern. I rotated the lantern, facing the red hued pane toward the column.
The Visulumina didn’t disappoint. Lines of text manifested one letter at a time like an invisible typewriter. Instead of a Haiku, a paragraph lit up the side of the column.
Pele, ruler of fire and Goddess of the mountain waits. Go to the sunken boat where many a soul perished. A sacrifice of blood is required to reveal the treasure you seek. Retrieve the dagger from its watery grave, and restore the balance of Azulyria. Let the pages be your ultimate guide.
“Leave it to the magic that flows through my veins to pick a place that brings back a wide range of emotions,” Jared said.
“What do you mean by that?”
“Pele is said to be the keeper of the great island volcanoes.”
“Island volcanoes? Wait, you’re talking about Hawaii.”
“That is the modern name for it, but we Stone Walkers always referred to it as the land of fire. It was the place where we survivors fled to when Azulyria began to sink. In case of an emergency, that was one of the contingency plans our nation had in place. Sadly, we had to make use of it.”
“I can only imagine what that was like˗˗˗having to abandon the only home you’ve ever known. Did anyone else besides Serena flee with you?”
“Our mother made the journey with us, though I don’t really speak to her these days.”
“Why?” This wasn’t really the time to be dredging up the past, but I had to know.
“To put it mildly, she adamantly disagreed with my choice to become involved with Emily, because she was human. And of course when that relationship blew apart, she couldn’t resist rubbing it in my face. A female Stone Walker would never treat you that way, she would say. I stopped talking to her, and moved as far away as I could get to escape he
r meddling.”
Damn. He had to put up with a bigot as a mother. Trust me, I understand pride, but then again, neither of my parents has tried to force me to be with someone specific they had in mind.
“In all this time she’s never tried to reach out at all?”
“Yep. My mother is one of the most stubborn women I know, and that’s saying a lot. It was either her way or the high way. Serena ran away from home several times just to get some peace and quiet every once and a while. I guess you could say that I did too. It just took me years to figure out that was the best solution. My mother could really hold a grudge when she thought she knew what was best.”
“You must have really been angry. I know I can’t speak for you, but I don’t think I could go years without speaking to my mom, even if I was pissed at her for some reason.”
Jared’s mother sounded like an egotistical control freak that thought she was at the top of the food chain. Woo, Stone Walkers have elemental magic. So freaking what, it doesn’t make you better the better species.
“Just be happy that yours doesn’t resort to bribery to reel you into complacency.” He was bitter, and rightfully so.
“This is obviously a sore subject. Let’s just drop it and concentrate on more immediate problems. Trust me, I’m not against going to Hawaii, but there are tons of islands, and we can’t go land hopping until we hit pay dirt. God knows my stomach wouldn’t be able to handle it after too long.” Jared looked off into the distance, a look of complete seriousness present.
“Island hopping won’t be necessary. The sunken boat where many a soul perished could only describe once specific vessel ˗˗˗the U.S.S. Arizona in Pearl Harbor.”
“When you think about it, I have to admit that a submerged ship is a clever hiding spot for Lapisera’s Dagger. Ironic that we would be sent to a place that, like you said, doesn’t exactly invoke warm and fuzzy feelings.”
“Which according to Stone Walker logic makes it the perfect spot,” Jared said ruefully.
2 Days Later – Honolulu, Hawaii
The cheapest tickets that would gain us access to view the U.S.S. Arizona were for a four and a half hour tour that included pick-up and drop-off from our hotel. Preliminary digging made it clear that public diving at the site was off limits. We would have to sneak back out here after dark, and do our best not to get arrested. After all, there were still bodies contained within the mangled wreckage, so the no diving rule was understandable. In essence it was a mass grave, and disturbing it would be disrespectful to the dead.
Our instructions merely stated to go to the U.S.S. Arizona, not to actually go inside. The dagger was most likely hidden in nearby rocks or tangled up in aquatic vegetation. This would be my first time attempting a night dive. My nerves were already on edge, and not only because of the risky activity I was about to perform. It’s not like I was going to be going in completely blind, I would have mounted lights on my goggles and forearm. Jared would stand watch to make sure that I remained safe.
“You still have that pocketknife on you Alex?” Jared asked as we waited for the shuttle to cart us off to the harbor.
“Yeah, I brought it. With the alluding to a blood sacrifice, I figured that we’ll need it.” I could foresee having to extract a sample of blood, might as well make it as painless as possible. The blade was recently sharpened, and by recent I meant like thirty minutes ago. The shuttle pulled around the circle drive.
On the ride to the harbor I studied the landscape with a critical eye, assessing its benefits and for dangerous complications. There was a reason that the Stone Walkers chose Hawaii as a place to flee should a natural disaster make staying on Azulyria impossible.
Acres of tropical Rainforest and a year round warm climate could be classified as ideal conditions. That same dense foliage could also hide a deadly trap. If you didn’t mind the excessive rainy season and the prospect of a volcanic eruption, survivors of a catastrophic event could blend into the greenery and seek shelter wherever convenient. I wonder if Azulyria had similar features or if it was a full 180 degrees opposite.
We boarded the ferry, taking note of the other passengers. If that woman had caught up with us already, innocent lives could be put at stake. Our search turned up no unusual activity. She wasn’t here as far as we could tell. Since using his natural Stone Walker senses were useless, we would have to rely on good old fashioned tracking to monitor her movements.
Gleaming bright against the aqua blues and greens of the ocean, the U.S.S. Arizona memorial site represented a past drenched in war and vast casualties. The sloping white platform bisected the wreckage of the actual ship, whose remnants stuck up past the rainbow oil-slicked surface. Visitors could peer through open air windows that were cut into the white concrete monument to view a piece of history. Although rusted and deteriorating, it was a reminder of more volatile times.
“So many lives were destroyed, I kind of feel guilty being here with a selfish agenda.” I said on a whim, my eyes downcast in hooded shame.
“Alex, just as many lives, more actually, were sealed away that day 34 years ago. They deserve our help. Those soldiers that rest below us would understand.” They would. As a soldier loyalty to one’s country kept them going.
“I guess so. May whatever higher power that exists forgive us anyway, and not strike us down where we stand.” There was a solemn finality to my plea. Let my apology be heard. I wanted to make sure that the great beyond didn’t take our actions as sacrilegious.
Wide-eyed patrons fluttered about, absorbing history, and streams of salty ocean air. The dock used for disembarkation sat mostly abandoned.
A finger prick should be sufficient enough to enact the magic that protected the dagger. Stone Walkers were the ones that hid it in the first place, so I assumed that Jared would have to be the lucky volunteer. I handed him my pocketknife.
“It shouldn’t take much, so make it quick. Someone could see us,” I said. Blood tends to panic crowds, hence my cursory haste.
He took the knife and made a small cut across the meaty flesh of his lower palm, wincing with the pass of the blade. Hand facing down, he extended his arm past the edge of the dock. Crimson droplets descended to the water below. We waited, holding our breath, anticipation building. Two minutes, then five, no obvious signs made their presence known. Jared’s blood didn’t work.
“Do you think we should wait any longer?” Jared asked.
“I don’t think it will do any good.” If not his, then whose blood would work? An idea struck me. I should have thought of it sooner. Yes, he was a Stone Walker, but to put it politely, he was a commoner. His blood wouldn’t carry the pedigree to reveal a hidden artifact enchanted by a member of the upper echelons in their society, but maybe the power of a queen would. I slashed the knife across my hand.
“Alex what the hell˗˗˗” Emerging from the rippling waves, a beam of yellow light, precise as a laser beam, shot upwards. Fearing that we might have been caught in the act, I glanced about to see if anyone had noticed. Apparently they hadn’t. Cameras continued to flash as excited tourists captured memories, totally unfazed by the illuminated display.
I guess it was part of the spell’s protection˗˗˗only Stone Walkers could see it. I was a unique case. Azulyria’s last Azurina or the Queen of Swords, Ivyssa, sent out her powers to seek someone capable of helping save Azulyria. That same magic flowed through my veins thanks to a necklace I stumbled across by accident. With that discovery came abilities that allowed me to do things that no human should be able to.
It was a cloudless night illuminated by silver moonlight that sparkled and danced across the deep blue waves. From the tree line we spotted the beam of a flashlight playing across the sand. A security guard surveyed the beach, sweeping back and forth, searching for any sign of trespassers˗˗˗like us. I just had to slip into the water after he passed, and was out of visible range. The beam faded from sight. It was go time.
My targeted dive would begin with a fiftyish foot surface
swim to conserve the air in the tank strapped to my back. I kept my strokes shallow and measured. Too much splashing and I would be found out.
A black and navy wetsuit shielded my body against the water with stretchy neoprene. Darkened colors helped to mask the prelude of my clandestine dive. If I didn’t begin my descent before that security guard returned for another circuit, things might get ugly. Jared stood watch near the shore, eyes glancing up and down the shore for trouble.
Rusted steel rising from the oil-slicked inky waves reflected patches of muddy browns and coppery oranges in the ambient light cast from the moon. I reached for the apparatus slung over my left shoulder so that I could deflate the BCD vest that kept me afloat. With light pressure the deflation button was depressed, divesting my harnessed vest of the air with a slow hiss.
The beam of yellow light broke through the darkness like a beacon of hope. It was easy to spot with the headlamp that I wore˗˗˗solid, brilliant, and unwavering. The parallels to a cinematic franchise that captured the thrill of space exploration and defeating an evil enemy were uncanny. As I pressed closer, the beam pulsed, as if in recognition. The spell that protected Lapisera’s Dagger knew its caster was here to break its hold. A new protector had arrived.
On the far side of the wreckage, a pile of mossy rocks crested above dancing masses of seaweed. I followed the beam of yellow light to an alcove beneath the mound of stones. A sandy bluff anchored the rocks in place, jutting out to produce a shelf. Where stone met a grainy foundation, the light disappeared. I pushed my hand into the mushy layers, splaying my fingers to search for the dagger.
Maybe five inches down in the sandy silt, my hand came in contact with a solid object that felt like a broad stick. Only this stick was made of metal and not wood. Side to side I wiggled the object free, bringing it up from its plush tomb.
Threads of Blood and Silk: The stone Wielder's Legacy Trilogy Book 2 Page 13
