She glared at him. “Ask me to build you a contraption or an animal trap. Those things I can do. But do not ask me to touch those bones.”
Will chuckled, picking up the skull and moving it to one side. “They are already dead, Lucy. You can’t hurt them. Their souls have moved on.”
She snorted. “Tell that to my grandmother.”
He’d moved on to the next corpse and paused before touching the skull. “You’re right. I guess it’s possible a soul might linger near its body. Perhaps if it has unfinished business as your grandmother did. But these poor saps have been dead at least ten years.”
“You sure?” Lucy thought Will made sense, but still didn’t want to chance it.
“Absolutely. Come on. We need to hurry.”
Lucy proceeded to look with him, but refused to touch the skulls. It wasn’t that they were gross or that she was afraid of the dirt. It had to do with the fact that at one point the bones were covered with skin, muscle, and sinew, and that they had walked and talked, loved, and dreamed.
In the end, Will was right. They found the amulet inside an old locket near a skull. The bones were down in the bottom left corner, in nearly the last cubby they checked. Lucy picked up the amulet and stood. Her whole body shook. “We did it,” she said to Will, her face shining with excitement.
“Couldn’t have done it without you.”
She jumped into his arms, and kissed him like half dozen corpses didn’t surround them.
NINE
PUTTING THE TWO TOGETHER
“LET’S GET out of here,” Will said, pulling Lucy out into the fresh air. He closed the door and she heaved a deep breath, relaxing at last.
She hadn’t realized she’d been harboring such stress in her shoulders until the weight was gone. “I don’t think I’m cut out for this line of work,” she admitted.
“I disagree. You’re braver than most of those I travel with.” He pressed another kiss to her mouth.
The air snapped around them, like static before a lightning storm. “You did it. You found the other half of the amulet. How wonderful.” The voice fairly dripped with acid. It seemed to add electricity to their surroundings.
“Apep,” Lucy breathed, trying to push Will behind her.
Will wasn’t having it though and held her fast against him. “What are you?”
“I am Apep, god of the darkness and chaos. And I’m here to make sure those two amulet pieces stay apart.” Lighting sparked up and down his dark body. Lucy didn’t know how he did it, but he seemed to simultaneously blend and stand out from the darkness around them.
“The world won’t end, Apep,” Will scoffed. “It’s ridiculous to think that such a small item could cause so much damage.”
“How dare you question me?!” As he spoke the ground beneath them shook. Leaves fell from the trees above.
“Stop this,” Lucy screamed, desperate to keep hold of Will, but the shaking tore them apart.
“I’ll stop when you and the boy are dead. The ground split between Lucy and Will, keeping them separated.
Will went to jump across dividing ravine, but a gust of wind blew him back and he smashed against a nearby tree.
“No, please. Apep don’t do this. Don’t kill him. I’ll do anything!” Tears covered Lucy’s face, or it could’ve been the water falling along with the leaves.
But the ground stopped shaking and Apep came forward until he stood directly in front of her. “Anything?” he asked, touching a tendril of her hair.
“Yes, just please let Will live.” She peeked around Apep to verify Will was moving. “What if I gave you both pieces of the amulet? Then you could do with them what you wanted.”
Apep considered Lucy. “If you did that, Will would be returned to his time and the two of you would never be able to see each other again.”
“Don’t you dare separate them, Apep! Haven’t you already done enough harm?” Bastet appeared between Apep and Lucy, sparkling darkness swirling around her.
Apep turned to her. “Bastet, you cannot allow them to put the amulet together. Doing so will end this world.”
She huffed, effortlessly leaping over to Will and helping him stand. “I can’t believe you would be so cruel. These two belong together. It’s true love. You mustn’t keep them apart.”
Apep and Bastet contemplated each other—the goddess of the moon and stars versus the god chaos and darkness. Like two bulls in a pen neither would back down. The ground started to shake again. If these two fought, the consequences would be dire. And Lucy had no hope of stopping them. Instead she turned to Will.
“Let’s get out of here,” he shouted.
“You will not go anywhere,” Apep shouted back.
Her limbs became immobile, a weight holding her down. It was as though invisible ropes had bound her. “I can’t move,” Lucy said, trying to keep her lips from trembling though inside she shook like the leaves on the trees above them.
“Neither can I.”
The strain on Will’s face told Lucy he was really trying. “What should we do?” She felt helpless. Once again the two of them were in a precarious situation and she couldn’t help of moment of feeling sorry for herself. Maybe they were better off being apart. At least then Will would be safe.
Bastet and Apep were battling each other. She throwing white balls of light at Apep while he reciprocated with blue. Trees toppled and the chasm Apep had created grew so wide it swallowed the Bonomi crypt.
“What are we going to do?” Lucy tried to keep her wits about her, but she was truly afraid Will and her would end up dead.
As one of the tall trees cracked and began its descent toward them, she looked over at the man she loved more than her own life. “I’m sorry, Will.”
He growled a curse. “Don’t be. I’ll be forever grateful you found me in Central Park. Without you I never would’ve experienced love. And loving you has been the best part of my life.”
One of the leaves touched Lucy’s nose. She knew at any moment the remaining trees would crush them. She closed her eyes and waited.
But it didn’t come.
Carefully, she opened her eyes.
To her surprise saw Dashel, Harriet, and a man she’d never met standing in front of them.
“Give me another moment,” the man she hadn’t met before said.
“Hurry up, man,” Dashel spoke loudly.
The other man spoke some words Lucy didn’t understand and then she was free. She fell to her knees and Will fell beside her.
“Got it,” he said, and smiled.
Will took Lucy in his arms. “Are you hurt?”
“No,” she said, shaking her head. Tears fell onto her cheeks and she buried her face in Will’s shoulder. “I love you so much.”
Will helped her stand, keeping hold of her. “Where did the gods go?”
Harriet wrung her hands as she came forward. “Miss Lucy, are you injured?”
“No, Harriet. I’m all in one piece. Did you see the… man and woman fighting a moment ago?” Lucy didn’t want to alarm her maid, but it seemed odd that as soon as Harriet and her betrothed appeared, they vanished.
The stranger came forward. “I believe I can shed some light on the subject.” As he spoke a ball of light similar to the ones Apep and Bastet had used appeared in his palm.
“Are you a god, too?” Lucy asked, pushing herself further into Will’s side.
“Not quite.” He smiled. “Allow me to introduce myself. I am Sebastian Barrows, Duke of Vladimir.” He bowed deeply.
Lucy got the distinct impression the man had secrets.
The duke continued, “I am in possession of druid magic. With it I have contained the gods within this mystical box.” A glass cube appeared in the Duke of Vladimir’s palm. Peculiar gold markings covered each side. He held it out for everyone to see. “This won’t hold them indefinitely, but we should be safe for a short time.”
“Druid magic?” Will came forward, keeping hold of Lucy’s hand. “I’ve read a
bout that. It’s very old. In all my research no one has been able to discover its origin. How did you gain possession of it?”
Sebastian smiled amiably. “It was a gift from a friend. But that isn’t important. Our dear Miss Harriet has information that is of the utmost importance.” He bowed out of the way. “Tell them, draga.”
It was then that Lucy noticed the leather bound book tucked under Harriet’s arm. “Tell me what?” She had so many more questions. For Dashel, the duke, but most were for Harriet. Her lady’s maid was obviously so much more than she pretended to be.
“Perhaps we should retire to my home. I can have my cook prepare us a late night snack and some tea,” Sebastian said.
“I think that is an excellent idea,” Dashel interjected.
Lucy’s head was swimming. Only moments ago, she’d been about to. She’d believed she was seeing the end. Now Harriet and Dashel were there… she couldn’t think. “You’re bleeding.” Lucy went over to Dashel, her oldest friend, and her betrothed.
“Just a scratch.” He gently pushed her probing hands away. “I’ll tell you about it once we get to the duke’s.
Lucy looked at Will. “What are your thoughts on the subject?”
“I could eat.”
She realized she was famished as well. “Then let’s go.”
TEN
IT’S ALL VERY CIVILIZED
THEY SAT in Sebastian’s oversized drawing room. Stark white walls stood out against thick black curtains and a blazing fire roared in the fireplace. The logs snapped and crackled, giving the room much needed warmth. Paintings hung on the walls, surrounded by matching gold filigree frames. All verged on the slightly disturbing. Each depicted the same man clothed in black and donning a red velvet cape. The women were dressed in light linen dresses, shockingly revealing, yet delicate. Each of the girls had an exotic red flower in her hair.
As Lucy studied them, a thought came to her. The man in the images was more than just a man. Exactly what he was however, she didn’t know, but he seemed the embodiment of lust, a predator in need. The women symbolized the man’s desire. By the look on the man’s face it was apparent he wanted to do more than seduce the women, he wanted to consume them. The realization set Lucy on edge. What was worse, the man looked precisely like their host, Sebastian.
She glanced at the duke uneasily before turning her gaze on the rest of the room. It was a spacious, with a fireplace, a pianoforte, much seating, and various tables.
Lucy sipped her tea, admiring the flavor. Then she took a bite of the scone on her plate. It was light and buttery and delicious. She wanted to ask Sebastian if he would mind having his cook share the recipe.
As they sat, they discussed all kinds of small, menial items like the weather and the ball that occurred earlier that evening. Eventually, the conversation lulled. Lucy guessed it was because they were tired. The grandfather clock chimed, telling the group it was three-thirty in the morning.
Sebastian leaned forward, gazing at Harriet. “Well, I don’t think we can put this off any longer, Miss Harriet. Please share what you have found regarding the gods and the amulet.”
Lucy set her cup and saucer on the side table and clasped her hands together nervously. What she really wanted was to be alone with Will so they could finally reunite the two halves of the amulet. According to Bastet it would allow them to be together without the need to travel back and forth in time. A quick look at her beloved told her he was anxious as well.
“Right.” Harriet opened the large book she’d placed on the table in front of her and flipped through the pages. Near the end, she stopped, removing the golden ribbon marking the spot. She cleared her throat. “See, right here in this book, it says that many millennia ago the sun god Ra created a child without a heart. He named her Bastet. As she grew, the other gods mocked her, bullied her, and made her into their plaything. Unable to take their torture any longer, she determined to make all others feel as she did. That meant destroying any and all romance. If a couple were in love, she conspired and schemed to break them up. One night, Ra threw a party for the god of darkness and chaos, Apep, and the goddess of love, Hathor. He celebrated their love as the greatest of all time. Furious with her father, Bastet vowed to destroy them both.”
Lucy made a noise causing Harriet to pause and look up. “What is it?”
“Will and I have met Bastet and Apep,” Lucy said. “As did all of you. Tonight. The gods you are speaking about are the same ones trapped inside the box.” She indicated the glass cube sitting on the coffee table between them.
Stunned silence filled the room. They all nodded in understanding.
“That explains a lot,” Dashel said, ending the quiet. He went to pick up the box, but Sebastian stopped him.
“I wouldn’t do that. Without druid magic, the box will suck you in.”
Dashel sat back. “Very well.” He crossed one leg over the other, doing his best not to show how much that knowledge unsettled him.
“That wasn’t the first time Apep tried to kill us,” Will admitted. “Also, I’d love to discuss the details of the box sometime.” The last part he said to Sebastian.
“There will be time to discuss it later.” Sebastian clasped his hands together in front of him. “Continue the story, draga. You were telling us of Hathor and Apep.”
“Yes. Bastet spent millennia doing all she could to separate them. But it was all for naught until she discovered their secret: an amulet. Created by Hathor, it was used to keep Apep’s destructive nature in check. Without it he would return to the wrathful and chaotic god he’d been, destroying anyone in his path. So one night Bastet snuck into Apep and Hathor’s room while they slept, stole the amulet from Apep’s neck, and broke it in two pieces, then proceeded to toss them to Earth. When Apep woke without the amulet’s protection, his nature returned and he killed Hathor.”
“All of this because Bastet was created without a heart?” Will spoke with astonishment.
“That’s correct, sir,” Harriet said. “There’s more to the story, but the most important part is that Ra finally stepped in and told Bastet if she could unite the two pieces of the amulet once again, he would no longer force her to be the moon and the stars and would give her a heart.” Harriet stopped, allowing the words to sink in.
“Wait,” Will said, standing and walking over to the window. “What I’m hearing is that if Lucy and I put the amulet pieces together there will no longer be a moon or stars. Did I understand that correctly?” He came back over to the couch and placed a hand on Lucy’s shoulder.
Harriet looked away. “Yes, that’s what will happen. And without them, the world will cease,” she whispered.
“So Apep was right,” Lucy breathed, covering her mouth with her hands.
“What did he tell you?” Dashel asked.
“That Will and I being together would end the world,” Lucy said, crossing her arms and pulling them against her stomach. She thought she might be sick.
Dashel got up and poured himself another drink. “Let me make sure I’ve got this.” He sat back down. “Each of you now possesses one half of the amulet. At the moment, you can travel either forward or backward in time, depending on who is using it, though the time you spend together in that time is limited. Also, you can only travel during the dark of the moon. So far so good?” He asked Lucy.
“Exactly,” she responded.
“Very well. And putting the pieces together would mean you could be together somewhere always, but doing so would end the world.” Whenever Dashel faced a serious situation he tended to think things through out loud. His voice soothed her and allowed her time to consider the situation, too.
“This book talks about fiery stars falling from the sky, giant waves, and the blood of the people flowing like a stream through cities around the world. Nothing living would survive.” Harriet spoke in hushed tones, obviously shaken by what she’d read.
“Why not simply continue doing what you’re doing?” Sebastian put in. “You
can each use your half of the amulet to continue to see each other.”
“That’s better than nothing,” Will said, taking Lucy’s hand.
“Agreed,” Lucy said.
Harriet shook her head. “Now that both pieces have been located the people I work for won’t let you keep them.”
“They’d have to catch us first. We could run,” Will said, his brow furrowed.
Lucy thought that might work, except she worried about her family. It didn’t matter that her parents treated her like chattel. She still had her brother and sister to consider. “My family,” Lucy said.
“Not to worry. I will make sure they are taken care of.” Dashel smiled at her fondly. “I won’t let anything bad happen to your siblings.”
“Thank you.”
“Then let’s do it. We will leave tonight.” Will pulled Lucy to her feet, seemingly restless to get started.
“You’ll be gone again in less than four days. Where will I stay while you’re back in your own time?” Women in her time didn’t have the same freedoms they did in his. Surviving on her own without a benefactor would be impossible.
“We’ll figure it out,” Will said.
“Now that you have both pieces and each piece is supposed to take the other to their true love, what will happen? Will both of you go forward in time? Perhaps you could stay together in Mr. Godwin’s time?” Sebastian voiced that idea.
“That’s brilliant.” A flicker of hope overcame Lucy.
“It does sound like a stupendous idea. But the book says something about that as well.” Harriet placed her finger on a passage and began to read, “And lo, if the two possess both halves at once, and toucheth both halves that he or she might see the other, either one or both will die.”
“Fine. Whatever. Only one of us will touch the amulet at a time. No problem.” Will pulled Lucy against his side. “We can do this.”
Lucy smiled. It saddened her that they couldn’t be together always, but seeing each other one week a month was better than nothing.
Past the Ages: Book Two Page 5
