Revelation (Redemption of the Underworld)

by S. A. Gibbs

  Lucas leaned forward in the tub chair, his fingers locking together as he rested his arms on his knees. “We understand that, Amberleigh, but Athena won’t renege on the deal you made.”

  I figured as much. “What I need to know—is there another way for me to get to the underworld without the coin?” Lucas leaned back in his chair. The mischievous twinkle in his eyes vanished. Was there something they didn’t want me to know?

  Mitch’s heavy sigh grabbed my attention. “We didn’t want to take up that option.”

  “What option?”

  He glanced at Ryle but kept his lips sealed.

  Ryle shifted uncomfortably at the other end of the couch. I glared at him. “What option!” He looked down and I waited. Still nothing. They knew of another way. I could tell. I needed to know.

  Frustration sizzled inside me. I jumped to my feet, letting it explode. “I can’t believe you’re taking away my choice! You expect me to just accept Jed’s murder and follow you blindly. I could’ve died that afternoon in the park.”

  Lucas stood and grabbed me gently by the arms. “Amberleigh, calm down.”

  Calm down! Like hell. I shrugged him off. “I demand to know!”

  He took a step back and held up his hands. “All right. All right!” He sat back in his chair, and I folded my arms. “Amberleigh.” He sighed. “Please sit.”

  “Fine!” I spun on my heel and returned to the couch. I’d not let them skirt the issues I wanted answered.

  Ryle cleared his throat. “When Hades gave Athena the obol, he also gave his permission for one vial of ambrosia to be taken from the underworld. It’s the nectar of the gods.”

  So there was another way. “Is that how you became immortal?”

  He nodded. “Hades made me an offer I couldn’t refuse.”

  “What does the potion do?”

  “It changes your blood to ichor. The bittersweet liquid heals the body and restores it to its peak physical condition. It enhances one’s abilities. Provides strength, speed, and endurance.” He sighed. “But none of these things come without sacrifice. Immortality is meant for the gods. Its ageless pleasures can only exist in this world for a limited time.”

  Music trilled from Lucas’s phone. Walking from the room, he answered it.

  Limited time? My heart thrummed. What did he mean? My anxiety soared.

  Ryle touched my arm, jolting me from my thoughts. “We didn’t want you to have to choose between us and your world. If you take the potion, you will eventually have to leave those you love behind.”

  It sounded ominous. Was it really a viable option? How the hell would I decide?

  Lucas returned with a gleaming smile and a familiar twinkle in his eyes. “Right.” He clapped his hands. “We need to wrap this up. The auction’s tonight, and I have it from a reliable source that the sai will be up for sale.”

  I needed to know more, but I’d just have to wait.

  Chapter 19

  Amberleigh

  Sitting on the sea-green ottoman, my fingers trembled as I fumbled with the ankle strap on my shoe. I stopped, took a breath, and then tried again. Why did designers have to make the buckles so fiddley? Maybe I should’ve chosen a different pair? Stop changing your mind, I chided myself.

  I stood, and the silky white gown settled back into place without a crease. Moving to the mirror, I stopped in front of it. The diamond-encrusted comb adorning my bun completed the sleek overall look. I’d never been to an auction, let alone a secretive midnight one. The thought unsettled me. My stomach churned. I leaned forward. Good. The double-sided tape securely held the plunging front panels of the halter dress to my breasts.

  Our entrance at the auction would make a statement...we intended to purchase the sai.

  Halfway down the stairs, I paused and took a deep breath.

  I was ready.

  MAKING MY WAY TO THE kitchen, I hovered in the doorway. All three of the guys wore traditional, classy black tuxedoes. Lucas must have heard me because he turned, his face lighting up with a Cheshire Cat smile. He headed toward me. “You look ravishing.” He kissed my cheek.

  Ravishing wasn’t quite the look I’d been going for, but it would do. He placed a hand on my naked back, and my skin tingled beneath its warmth as he guided me over to join them for a drink.

  Ryle eyed me. My cheeks flushed with heat. He winked and handed me a glass of champagne. “This will settle those nerves.” My hand trembled, and I took a deep breath, hoping to calm my shaking. “You’ll be fine, Amberleigh. One of us will be by your side at all times.”

  Mitch raised his glass. “To securing the sai.”

  Our glasses clinked and we drank to his toast. I glanced at the clock. Nine fifty-five. The doorbell chimed, and taking another quick sip of champagne, I put my glass down.

  “May I?” Lucas offered me his arm. I linked mine with his, and he escorted me to the waiting limousine. After the warmth in the house, the cool night air prickled my skin, and I wished I had worn a wrap.

  The chauffer tipped his hat and opened the door. Lucas helped me inside and quickly slipped in the seat next to me, while Ryle and Mitch sat opposite us. The engine roared to life, and the limousine pulled out of the drive.

  Ryle reached over, slapping Lucas jovially on the shoulder. “Have you worked out how you’ll oust Chen tonight?”

  Ryle’s infectious grin piqued my interest. “Who’s Chen?”

  “Chen Lee’s the son of fanatical antiquity collector, Jin Lee. The Lees believe all stolen relics should be returned to their respected countries of origin, and he won’t accept the sai up for auction tonight doesn’t originate from Asia. It’s the twin to the one we’ve already procured. They were crafted in Olympus by Hephaestus as a wedding gift for Athena. Weapons he created for his beloved Goddess of War. Before he could consummate his union with her, she vanished from their bridal bed. Seething, Hephaestus threw one of the sai into the ocean, and the other, he cast to the far corner of the earth.”

  Ryle smiled. “You know Chen will never believe it.”

  I rested back and closed my eyes. I listened to Ryle discuss the matter with Lucas. Lucas bumped my knee, I opened my eyes.

  Mitch quickly looked away to stare out the window. I glanced down to where his eyes had just been. The split in my dress exposed my toned thigh. I closed my eyes again. My heart quickened. Did he find me desirable? My body heated, sending a ripple of pleasure racing through my body. My nipples hardened. Maybe it was the alcohol messing with my brain, but I couldn’t ignore the tingling between my legs. Would his goatee feel soft as he devoured my lips? The thought of being straddled across his lap, my breasts exposed, his hands beneath my dress massaging my rear.... My lips parted. I sucked in the stifling air. If he pulled me onto his lap right then, I knew I wouldn’t resist.

  My eyes flew open when Lucas gently touched my hand. “Are you all right?”

  I looked at him and blinked rapidly. He frowned. Could he see my desire? I licked my lips. Wafting my hand in front of my face, I looked out the window. “It’s stuffy in here.”

  He reached up and pressed a button on the console above us. The window next to me lowered halfway. Cool sea air flooded the limo, and I gulped it in. Above the hum of the engine, waves crashed upon the shore; the chilly breeze soon calmed the heat inside me.

  I pushed the button and tapped it again so it stayed open an inch. Resting back against the seat, I closed my eyes and focused on the drone of the car.

  THE LIMOUSINE SLOWED and then turned down a deserted road. I had no idea where we were headed, but the smell of salt in the air assured me we were still near the coast. Another few clicks down the road, the driver again slowed, and we pulled up at a pair of tall rusted gates. Lucas lowered his window. The security guard stationed at the booth came over. “Evening, sir.”

  “Good evening. Pier thirteen.” Lucas handed him a card.

  The guard flicked on his flashlight and checked it. He looked back at Lucas. “Enjoy your evening, Mr. San
ds.” Then he walked off.

  The chain mesh on the gate must have been loose because it bounced against the frame of the gate as the guard pulled it open. The wheel jutted over the ruts in the asphalt, and he waved us through. We approached a large building, maybe an office of sorts, and continued on. The limousine’s headlights lit up the flaking, faded paint as we passed shed after shed until finally, we veered away from the dilapidated buildings and followed the sign to pier thirteen. The yard was filled with shipping containers. They were stacked at least two high. I couldn’t see any further; the vehicle’s roof blocked my view. We eventually pulled to a halt in front of a warehouse. A single light above a door illuminated three men. Dressed all in black, they would’ve blended in well with their surroundings if they hadn’t stood under the light.

  One of the men approached the limousine and opened the door. Lucas placed a hand on my leg. “Are you ready?”

  I swallowed. When I nodded, Ryle and Mitch climbed out. Lucas stepped out and turned to offer me his hand. I slid across the seat. With his assistance, I managed to gracefully get out. He bent his elbow, and I tucked my arm around his. Mitch fiddled with his cuff links, then adjusted the front of his jacket. With my arm linked through Lucas’s, the four of us headed toward the door. One of the men dressed in black opened it.

  My heart thumped as we stepped inside the building and followed him through the dimly lit passage to a door at the far end. After he opened it, he then stepped to the side, allowing us to pass. Bulbous halogen lights hung from the rafters above us in the abandoned warehouse. The room was a stark contrast from the dark passage. Music flowed through the room from the classical quartet providing light entertainment as guests mingled and chatted with each other. There were more people here than I’d imagined. Waiters carrying trays of assorted drinks effortlessly glided from the bar to pass out refreshments. Promptly, a waitress approached and offered us a drink. My hand trembled as I took the ice-cold glass of champagne and thanked her before she moved on.

  We navigated our way through the crowd, pausing every so often as the guys introduced me to certain people they knew.

  Over on the far side of the room, a red carpeted stage stood. Positioned on one side of the stage was an easel and closer to the middle, where the auctioneer would stand, was a pedestal. Directly in front of the stage, rows of chairs had been arranged in a semi-circular position for guests to sit in as they watched the auction.

  The socializing elite gathered in small groups, and from their designer clothes to the glitzy jewelry they wore, they all oozed money. I was thankful I’d worn the white dress.

  Lucas moved to my side and whispered in my ear, “I have to organize something. I’ll be back in moment.”

  I nodded.

  Mitch chatted with Ryle, and as I looked around the room, I absent-mindedly fondled the stem of my fluted champagne glass. They stopped talking.

  Mitch’s gaze narrowed. “Chen’s arrived.”

  I glanced over to where he stared. A man, probably in his late twenties, wearing tinted glasses, strode over to Lucas with three cronies in tow. Lucas offered the man his hand. Chen clasped it and leaned toward him. I was sure there was more than a little rivalry going on. Ryle chuckled and took a deep breath. “Chen better watch himself. There are more than a few witnesses around.”

  I swallowed the lump rising in my throat. “There won’t be any trouble, will there?”

  Mitch placed a comforting hand on my back. “Chen can get a little miffed, but I’m sure security can handle him.”

  “Ladies and gentlemen,” a man’s voiced echoed through a speaker. “Please make your way over to the podium. We’re ready to begin.”

  Guests headed toward the dais to take their seats. I spied a man tap his ear. He must have had an earpiece for communication. Good. Mitch had been right about the security. My tension eased and my shoulders relaxed.

  Lucas returned with that familiar twinkle in his eye, the one I knew so well. Obviously there was no limit to whom the man wouldn’t bait. “Are we ready?” He rubbed his hands together, and I smiled before he made his way to a vacant seat in the third row of chairs. While Chen chose a seat on the right side, closer to the crowd standing at the back, Ryle, Mitch, and I stood next to a tall table alongside the rows of chairs. The crowd buzzed with chatter until two men stepped onto the podium. The lights in the room dimmed while the light over the stage brightened.

  “Welcome, ladies and gentlemen.” The older man, our host, spoke into a microphone. “I’m sure you’ve all had plenty of time to catch up with old friends” He smiled. “Tonight, there are three items for you to bid on.” A murmur rose from the crowd. “A last-minute addition I’m sure will give you a thrill, but first up, we have Poppy Flowers.” With a flourish of hands, he stepped back, allowing a younger man to move forward and handle the auction.

  Two security guards escorted another man with a painting up onto the stage. He placed it on the easel and stood to the side. The painting was of a vase of yellow and red poppies, their colors vibrant against the dark background.

  “Welcome, ladies and gentlemen. Tonight we have an oil on canvas. Painted in 1887, by none other than Van Gogh himself. There’s no reserve on this painting. It will be sold tonight. I’ll start the bidding off at forty-eight.” He pointed to a man at the back. “Thank you, sir. Forty-eight.”

  Lucas raised his hand.

  “The bid now stands with Mr. Sands, at forty-nine.”

  I was startled. I didn’t know we were bidding for a painting. I tugged on Mitch’s arm and he leaned over. “Forty-nine hundred is a lot for a picture,” I said.

  He whispered back, “It’s forty-nine million.” My mouth dropped open. He nudged me, and I closed it. I wove my fingers through his, squeezing his hand. He glanced down. I smiled back.

  The auctioneer whirred on. “Fifty!” He pointed at Chen. He returned a nod. “Do I hear fifty-one?”

  Lucas raised his hand. I held my breath. What was he doing? We were here for the sai. My eyes darted to Chen, and I caught his snarl. He raised his hand.

  “Fifty-two, sir.” The auctioneer acknowledged Chen, then looked to Lucas for another million.

  Lucas shrugged.

  Was he done? I glanced back at Chen. His beaming smile assured me he was happy to have bested Lucas. I sighed with relief.

  “Any other bids?” The auctioneer waited a second. “Going once at fifty-two million. Twice at fifty-two million. Are we all finished, all done?” He paused. “At fifty-two million” —he slammed the gavel on the pedestal— “Sold to Mr. Lee!”

  Lucas clapped along with the rest of the crowd. Turning, he nodded to Chen, admitting his defeat. Chen laughed, his crooked teeth bursting through his smile.

  The painting was taken away, and a blue-and-white porcelain bowl came out to replace it. Undergoing the same bidding process, it fetched eleven million dollars. The amount of money being spent didn’t seem real. How could someone pay that much for a painting, let alone a bowl?

  A waiter passed by and I accepted a drink. A woman heading toward the back of the crowd caught my attention. I hadn’t noticed her earlier. Maybe she’d arrived late. She turned and smiled directly at me. My breath caught in my throat. I recognized her golden hair and Grecian tanned skin. That smile on those perfect red lips. I tugged Mitch’s hand.

  Without looking at me, he leaned closer. “What?”

  “Athena’s here.”

  He scanned the crowd.

  She wiggled her fingers at him.

  “What’s she doing here?” I whispered.

  He grinned. “There’s nothing Athena likes better than a good battle.”

  “Is she here to see Lucas win?”

  He squeezed my hand. “Let’s hope so.”

  Chapter 20

  Amberleigh

  “Ladies and gentlemen, our final item for the night, is an archaeological wonder. Dredged from the waters surrounding Lemnos a thousand years ago. This weapon, encrusted and preserved
by the elements of nature, is a miraculous find.”

  The room buzzed with excitement as a man carrying a black rectangular case was escorted to the stage. He stepped onto the platform and placed the carrier on the pedestal. After flicking the tumblers, he opened the lid. I stepped forward for a better look. Nestled on a bed of blue velvet was a sai. It looked like the one displayed over the fireplace back home. Maybe it really was the sai’s twin.

  Lucas remained aloof from the hubbub around him. I glanced up at Ryle, his face a blank canvas as he observed the host’s theatrics. Mitch accepted another drink from a waitress who’d swanned over to snatch a glimpse of the iron weapon.

  The audience hung on the presenter’s every word. “Or is it merely a fable? A story to displace the weapon’s true origin.” A man’s laughter interrupted the speaker. Chen’s goons slapped him heartily on the back.

  Our presenter thrust his arms open wide. “Ladies and gentlemen, I leave it up to you to decide.” He backed away, allowing the auctioneer to step forward.

  Chen raised a hand. “Ten million.”

  The auctioneer pointed his gavel. “Thank you, sir. Starting at ten.”

  “Twenty!”

  I searched the crowd. A woman wearing a red dress stood at the back of the crowd; her beaming smile ensured me she had just made the bid.

  “Twenty, madam.” The auctioneer scanned the crowd. “I’m looking for thirty.”

  Chen raised his hand. “Thirty.”

  “Thirty-two!” The woman bid right back.

  Lucas’s calm demeanor only increased my anxiety. My grip tightened on my glass. He hadn’t offered a bid. What was he waiting for?

  The auctioneer pointed his gavel. “New bidder. Thirty-three.” I hadn’t seen anyone offer.

  Chen bid again.

  “The bid sits with Mr. Lee at thirty-four.”

  “I love the way Lucas lets them play.” Athena’s voice drifted over my shoulder.