Elixir of Eve: The Keepers, Book One - A Fae Series

by Alex Temples

  “It’s incredible.” I agreed, watching a large, orange bird swoop down from the roof and land on the sign out front.

  We headed into the hotel to check-in. Sam and I were sharing a room. I checked in quickly, eager to go upstairs and change into something cooler and better suited for the humid day.

  Sam, excited to use her Spanish, chattered happily with the bell hop as he carried our bags to our room.

  It was obvious the young man was smitten with her, as he gazed wistfully after her once he’d deposited our bags on the bed.

  I smiled at him sympathetically and handed him a tip before closing the door.

  “I love it here!” Sam said as she began peeling off layers of clothing.

  I laughed at her excitement and began changing out of my traveling clothes.

  “I must admit – it is beautiful. Although, I think I’d be able to enjoy it more if we were here under better circumstances.” I added sadly, thinking of Oren.

  Sam crossed the room and threw her arms around me. I grunted with surprise, inhaling the familiar scent of her Jasmine perfume. I gave her a squeeze before turning to rifle through the items I’d brought.

  “What shall we wear to dinner?” She asked, pulling out a light purple halter dress and holding it in front of her as she stood in front of the mirror.

  Aiden had invited us to a dinner. He planned to introduce us to his Colombian team members before we set out into the wild.

  I sighed, staring at my clothing options. I wasn’t really in the mood to socialize. Flipping through the few items in my bag, I grimaced, realizing I had nothing to wear.

  “All I brought with me are hiking clothes. Oh well.” I made a sound of resignation and began to pull on a pair of shorts.

  “Oh, no. I don’t think so!” Sam argued, rifling through the contents of her bag. With a sound of triumph, she found what she was looking for. “Wear this.” She exclaimed, launching a black bundle of fabric across the room before I could object.

  “What is, this?” I asked, catching what looked like a rather scandalous black dress. My eyebrows shot up as I unfolded it.

  “You think I should wear this? To a business dinner? With a bunch of strangers?” I looked between Sam and the skimpy garment, a dubious expression on my face.

  Sam shrugged. “You’re 29. It isn’t inappropriate to show a little skin at dinner. And this isn’t really your traditional business dinner. Given the situation, I’d say we have a little leeway with the definition of business-casual.”

  “It seems a bit…much…or too little, depending on how you look at it.” I argued, wrinkling my nose.

  “Wear this over it. Business on top, party underneath.” She winked and threw me a lacy shawl.

  I sighed with resignation. Discarding my wrinkled clothes, I stepped into the dress. Black silk puddled around me and with a resolute pull, I yanked the dress over my hips, which were wider than Sam’s by at least a few inches. The silk was cool and soothing against my hot skin. Nice. It was more feminine than what I usually wore, but I had to admit she had good taste.

  The beadwork on the front of the dress was breathtaking. The fabric hugged all the right areas, skimming over others to give me the perfect hourglass shape.

  “Wow.” Sam and I spoke at the same time as we stared at my reflection.

  I couldn’t help the smile that stretched across my face. It was as if the dress were made for me.

  “Alright, you were right.” I admitted grudgingly. “This is definitely a better choice than my tank top and shorts.”

  She laughed.

  I sat down on the bed, sweeping my hair up into an elegant knot, that left a few tendrils hanging around my face. I put on my favorite diamond earrings and adjusted the turquoise medallion I always wore dangling between my breasts.

  “I’m ready.”

  “Me too.”

  I smiled with her. “We better get down to dinner.” I gestured towards the door. “We’re already ten minutes late.”

  “Haven’t you ever heard of making an entrance?” She winked, looping her arm though mine and dragging me out the door.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Aiden

  Aiden tapped his foot under the table. The women were late and he was annoyed with having to play host to a group of men. At least everyone else was enjoying each other’s company. The free-flow of liquor and the beautiful surroundings didn’t hurt.

  The hotel was clearly popular with tourists and locals alike and the onsite restaurant was packed. The stone walls, floor the ceiling wine racks and faux candles flickering in gothic wall sconces, created a luxe and festive atmosphere.

  Neil sat to his right drinking the mortal poison he claimed to abhor. Aiden watched as he polished off his first beer and gestured to the server for another.

  He smiled with amusement.

  A collective intake of breath around the table made him turn towards the entrance.

  His mouth gaped open as Brin and her friend stepped through the doorway of the rustic dining room. The entire room watched them cross the parquet dance floor.

  Sam was wrapped in purple, her long blonde hair flowing over her shoulders like a Greek Goddess. Brin…Gods help him. She looked like the devil herself. Black silk clung to every curve, swishing provocatively with each step she took.

  Her red hair was piled on top of her head, a few wild strands framing her face and emphasizing her startling blue eyes. Her long black lashes fluttered and she flushed, noticing the attention.

  This was a woman who didn’t understand her power. She was strong and confident, yet completely naïve to her allure. Fire burned in Aiden’s core as he imagined pulling her into his arms and carrying her off to his room.

  “Hello.” Brin said, staring expectantly at him.

  “Good evening, ladies.” Aiden said, standing.

  “Brinmar Yates, Samantha Kelly, I’m pleased to introduce you to Neil Roberts. He gestured to the tall, dashing man on his right. Neil stood, reaching out to shake hands with Brin, and then Sam, where he lingered overlong.

  Aiden cleared his throat and Neil let go of Sam’s hand.

  “Neil handles all of the fancy equipment Arcata sent with us. He also holds a degree in microbiology from Oxford and will be able to assist with specimen collection as needed.”

  Brin and Sam nodded and smiled at Neil.

  Aiden gestured to a swarthy man in his mid-forties. He had a shaved head, several tattoos and dark eyes.

  “Diego Garcia is a botanist. He’s our expert on the local flora and fauna – as much as you can be with the sheer number of undiscovered species out there.” Aiden said.

  “A pleasure, ladies.” Diego purred in heavily-accented English.

  Instead of taking Brin’s hand, he clasped her shoulders and slowly kissed her on each cheek.

  Brin’s eyes widened.

  “It is customary to greet women this way.” Diego explained, smiling at her expression.

  Samantha didn’t blush at all when he greeted her. Aiden thought he saw her lean in, and smiled to himself. Maybe the mortals did know how to have fun.

  Aiden gestured to a shorter, muscular young man in his early twenties. With his shaggy, black hair and neatly trimmed beard, he had the laid-back look of an outdoorsman.

  “Sergio Rojas will be our guide on the trail to Teyuna. He has trekked to Teyuna 35 times and will make sure we don’t get lost.”

  Sergio chuckled, shaking hands with both women.

  Introductions to the key players made, Aiden gestured for the women to make themselves comfortable, waiting until they were settled in their seats before continuing.

  “Now that everyone has met, I want to run through the plan for tomorrow. We have a very early start, but first – a toast to the team’s success.

  He picked up a bottle of wine and filled their glasses before raising his own.

  “Here’s to a successful mission, may the trails not be too harsh, the weather too contrary, or the company too boring.
”

  Laugher sounded around the table and people murmured in agreement.

  “I want to thank you all for coming together so quickly. We have important work to do here, work that may save the lives of thousands of people, and we couldn’t accomplish it without you.” Brin said. “To our success.”

  There was another round of clinking as everyone repeated her toast. Aiden waited until the chatter died down before continuing.

  “A few other team members will accompany us to help make camp and carry the equipment. They won’t be joining us until morning. Sergio is going to start by running us through the schedule for tomorrow.” Aiden nodded in the man’s direction.

  Sergio stood, passing out maps to the group. He spread a large map on the table and began detailing their route.

  “We begin our trek to Ciudad Perdida promptly at 6a.m. tomorrow.”

  Sam interrupted. “The Lost City?”

  Sergio nodded. “Yes, have you heard of it?”

  She shook her head. “No, I haven’t.

  Aiden jumped in. “We believe the plant we’re looking for, this hybrid breed of mistletoe, grows on the trees near the lost city. There have been photos taken that show the mistletoe living off some of the nearby trees.”

  “What is so unusual about this variety of mistletoe?” Brin asked.

  “I’ll defer that question to our botanist.” Aiden nodded in the other man’s direction.

  Diego cleared his throat. “Well, first you have to understand how mistletoe grows. Are either of you ladies’ familiar with the physiological workings of mistletoe?” He asked. Seeing their blank expressions, he continued.

  “It’s fascinating, really. The Mistletoe you commonly see hung over doorways at Christmastime is a hemi-parasitic plant. It comes from the order of Santalales, a type of flowering plants commonly found in tropical regions like this. Many of these plants are hemi-parasitic. They are able to produce sugars through photosynthesis by tapping the stems or roots of other plants, and leeching them of water and nutrients.” His eyes were bright as he explained, clearly excited about his subject matter.

  Brin and Sam both leaned in, fascinated. Diego took their silence as an invitation to continue.

  “Well, the American Mistletoe variety you’re used to, also known as Oak mistletoe, has hard, white berries and thick, leathery leaves. The leaves are small and oval-shaped, each not much larger than a pea. In these photos…” He reached into his bag and pulled out several enlarged photos, which he slid across the table towards them.

  Brin examined the photos, gasping when she saw it. “Oh. That’s interesting.”

  A couple stood on a large, stone platform, surrounding by lush jungle. In the background, Brin could see the telltale ball shape of mistletoe, but instead of the small leaves and pea-sized berries, this mistletoe was ten times the usual size

  “Why do you think this variety of Mistletoe will help us create a drug to treat the virus?” Brin asked, raising her eyebrows at Diego and Aiden in question.

  Aiden looked thoughtful.

  “After extracting a specific element from American Mistletoe, we observed a reaction between it and the viral samples collected from several ill persons. There’s a reaction, but not a strong enough one to kill the viral cells. As you are of course aware, most antivirals work not by killing the viral particles, but by inhibiting the virus’s ability to reproduce.”

  Brin nodded and he continued.

  “Well, a particular chemical we’ve extracted from the Mistletoe plant has shown it not only inhibits cellular reproduction, it can also penetrate the protective layer of a virus particle, killing it by leeching out the protein. This viral strain is like a magnet for our mistletoe enzyme. It leaves all the host’s cells unaffected.”

  Aiden stopped and glanced around the table, welcoming questions. Everyone sat silently, digesting the information.

  Brin spoke first. “That’s very interesting. I recently read of an oncology researcher in Europe who is exploring the effects of mistletoe extracts in treating certain types of cancer.”

  Aiden nodded. “Yes, that thinking began in the early 20th century. Austrian anthroposophical spiritual leader Rudolf Steiner suggested that because mistletoe and cancer were both parasitic and lethal to the host, we should explore how the plant can be used to treat cancer.”

  Sam and Brin glanced at one another. Aiden felt the interest humming around them. He knew Brin’s research focus was oncology, and figured he’d hook her with that bit of information.

  Neil cut in, sounding more relaxed than Aiden had ever heard him. “Mistletoe has a fascinating history, far beyond the 20th century. It grows on several varieties of trees, but one in particular…”

  “Oak.” Samantha finished his sentence.

  Neil nodded, his eyes twinkling. “Very good, Samantha.”

  Sam smiled back at him and took his nod as an invitation to continue. “I read an article about this. Well, the article was actually about the ancient Druids. It talked about how they used Mistletoe in ceremonies. They considered it sacred because it grew on their revered Oak trees.”

  “Indeed.” Neil gazed appreciatively upon Sam’s face before continuing. His voice deepened with intrigue and Aiden had to force himself not to roll his eyes.

  “The Druids thought the plant would protect them from evil. They ordered it be cut from an oak by the light of the moon and then hung over the doors of their houses to ward off evil spirits.”

  Brin leaned forward in her seat, fascinated.

  “It was so sacred, that if two enemies met under a tree upon which it was growing, they would lay down their weapons and observe a temporary truce.”

  Neil’s had adopted an instructive tone Aiden remembered all too well from his youth. He sighed inwardly, knowing if he didn’t re-direct the conversation soon, they’d all be in for an hour lecture. Brin was clinging to his uncle’s every word and he couldn’t help but wish she’d cling to his every word. He tapped his foot under the table, eager for the opportunity to interrupt.

  Neil was gesturing with his hands as he explained an ancient process for extracting enzymes from the plant.

  “The Norsemen thought it was the only plant that could inflict injury on Baldur, the Sun God and the Ancient Romans believed it could unlock the door of Hades for Aeneas to enter.”

  Aiden clapped his hand on Neil’s back, re-filling his wine glass with the other one.

  “My friend seeks to impress you with the many legends told of the plant, but I think the anecdotes detailing its’ medicinal use are far more intriguing. The Native Americans used the plant to induce abortion and there are as many tales of it being used to treat epilepsy and even-”

  “Buenas noches!” A plump brunette waitress in a red ruffled top arrived at the table, cutting him off mid-sentence. Aiden fought the urge to glare at her. She smiled at the group. “Welcome to Casa Bonita! I see that you are already enjoying some of our fine wines. Would you like to order food?”

  Aiden glanced at his watch and nodded. “Yes. We’d better order so everyone can get to bed at a decent hour.” He looked around the table. “Does anyone mind if we just ask the chef to bring his favorite selections?”

  Brin and Sam looked at each other and shrugged. After seeing the rest of the group nod their consent, Aiden had a brief discussion with the waitress. She nodded, made a few notes on a small pad and disappeared in the direction of the kitchens.

  Aiden could see the wine starting to go to Brin’s head. He probed gently at her consciousness, sensing her relaxation. He touched her lightly on the shoulder and she jumped, startled.

  A bemused expression on his face, Aiden explained himself. “You looked like you were somewhere else. Sergio was just about to run through tomorrow’s itinerary.”

  Brin glanced hopefully across the table. Sam was deep in conversation with Sergio and Aiden hid his smile behind his hand. He made her nervous. She was trying to avoid talking to him.

  With no other option
s, Brin turned and offered him a weak smile.

  “I’m a little tired.”

  He nodded in understanding.

  “It has been a long week for you.”

  Brin bit her lip and nodded quietly. He felt the waves of sadness emanating from her and realized he wasn’t helping her mood. He cleared his throat to get Sergio’s attention. When Sergio looked up, Aiden gestured to the map.

  Sergio nodded and turned his attention from Sam to the map.

  “You should all have a map showing the trail to the lost city. If you’ll direct your attention here.” His finger came down in the bottom right hand corner, tracing along a winding black line. “First, we drive to Machete Pelao, where we will begin our trek.”

  His hand thumped down marking the location of the trailhead.

  Aiden watched Brin and Sam follow along on their own maps. He wondered how they’d do on the trail and how they’d react when they realized their true mission.

  He planned to pull Brin aside later that night to explain their real purpose, though he still hadn’t figured out what to say. Swirling his scotch a few times, he pondered this while half listening to Sergio talk about Machete Pelao.

  “I hate to interrupt.” Brin interjected, “but how long are we hiking? I mean, how many hours are we talking until we reach our destination, and what is the trail like? We weren’t exactly prepared in advance for any of this.” She gave Aiden a pointed look and drained the rest of her Malbec.

  Aiden admired her spunk and hoped dearly the wine she was downing would make their after-dinner conversation go smoother.

  Sergio smiled. “That’s a great question. The hike is five hours the first day. The terrain is mostly jungle, some farmland – there are some Kogi communities throughout.” Seeing their confusion, Sergio offered an explanation.

  “The Kogi are the indigenous people who live throughout the river valleys of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. They’re a very friendly people, so no need to worry about anything there. If everything goes as planned, we should reach camp by evening.”

  “Five hours.” Brin repeated, a thoughtful look on her face. Aiden felt her relief. “Five hours isn’t bad at all. Where are we camping?”