by Allie Burton
“We didn’t get the oil from Coit Tower. It was gone.”
“No worries.” He shoved his hands further into his coat pockets.
Which concerned me more. My gut feeling or instincts were completely whacked out. Emotional over Xander. Distrusting the only man I’d ever counted on. Nothing made sense.
He rustled his hand in his pocket again. A flash of gold caught my attention. All the air left my chest. My aching heart sunk. I couldn’t believe it. It was like being stabbed in the back with a golden dagger.
Fitch wore a gold mesh glove.
With widening eyes, I backed up in small steps. My knees gave way, but I stopped myself from falling.
How did he know how to touch me?
“W-why do you need those?” My voice trembled, but inside I rocked. My entire world jolted and shattered. “I said I’d call you.”
“X suggested the gold mesh would be useful.”
The single-lettered name was like a bullet between my eyes. My head scorched with pain as my mind wrapped around the information. “Do you know who X is?”
Maybe he didn’t understand the situation. X was bad. I was good. Well, not angel-like good but I wouldn’t abuse the powers, wouldn’t try to control the world.
A gleam of sinister glee lit Fitch’s dark eyes. His gaze traced a path over my taut body. A slight tug of one side of his mouth twisted into a gruesome smile of ultimate victory. Victory over me. “X is our client.”
My heart dropped to the bottom of my burning ribcage, like it was the center of my own personal inferno. I grabbed onto the red rail to keep from falling. “What?”
“X commissioned the theft of the amulet.” Fitch’s smile took on a wicked life. “And he needed a sixteen-year-old to host King Tut. I was supposed to ensure you got the amulet before the Society showed up.”
Fitch knew about the transfer of King Tut’s soul. He knew about the power. He knew a sixteen-year-old needed to possess it.
“But how could X make the transfer occur?” The questions tossed in my mind. “The Society had to read from a scroll during the lunar eclipse.”
“X knew the ancient words that needed to be spoken. That’s why our timing was tight. You were supposed to get the amulet and get outside before the end of the eclipse.”
The shock of how much Fitch did know stilled my furious thoughts. X, our client, had obviously told Fitch the tale. If I could convince him the tale was completely false, I might have a chance to swing him back to my side.
My hand gripped the rail tighter. “Surely, you don’t believe all this mumbo jumbo.” I hadn’t at first.
Fitch was a realist. He didn’t believe in any type of mighty power. Except for the power of money.
He leaned his elbow against the rail and crossed his ankles. Like this was a normal conversation. “I didn’t believe at first, but what did it matter what X believed as long as he paid enough.”
Fitch’s nonchalant sale of me—the too casual words—shredded my soul in two.
“I thought you cared.” I’d known he was hard, but he’d taken me in, taught me a trade. I’d trusted him at the most crucial moment of my life.
“I’d spent years training you to be a thief and all you wanted was to go to school. When you didn’t get your way, you wanted to help the younger kids go to school. That would look like I’d gone soft.”
“You promised you’d let Tina and Doug get an education.” The words tasted bitter on my tongue. I should’ve gone to the authorities when Tina and Doug first arrived. When I’d threatened Fitch, he’d told me the authorities would split them apart. I couldn’t let that happen. So, he’d kept them and trained them. And I’d taken care of them.
“Too much wasted time and talent.” He had lied to me, deceived me, and sold me.
Like a common slave.
I am Pharaoh. Not a slave. Tut’s soul roared.
Fury ignited like a solar flare on the sun. The burning pulsed, spreading the anger like a wildfire. I cross-stepped in front of Fitch, forcing him against the bridge railing, thinking about zapping him except he wore a gold glove. My touch wouldn’t singe.
“Enough discussion.” Fitch reached his gloved hand toward my arm. “We’re meeting X so I can collect my final fee.”
The imagined dagger twisted opening the gaping wound farther. The man I looked up to, who I’d trusted beyond anyone was truly vile. I’d given up Xander, pushed him away, and Fitch had betrayed me.
Everything inside me plummeted. My heart and my hope. That’s why he’d sent the entire family looking for me. Why he’d been anxious when I called. It wasn’t because he cared about me. He cared about the power.
The power I now held.
Tut roared again. All his anger, all his power, exploded like a grenade. I didn’t think. Just reacted. Reacted to the hurt and the pain and the anger and the fury. I shoved the palms of my hands against Fitch’s chest. The second I touched him heat slammed through me like a rocket booster. Power poured through my veins and into my muscles.
But he didn’t jerk or convulse. The gold mesh gloves saved him from my power. “Olivia, you will do what I say.”
“I’m tired of doing what you say.” The power ignited my words. “What you say is wrong. What you do is wrong. What you have me, and the other kids do is wrong.” Fire burst from between my lips. Heat seared my face.
“Olivia, don’t be rash.” His smooth trying-to-convince tone didn’t fool me. “Let’s talk about what you want.”
“I want you to promise Tina and Doug will go to school. I want you to contact the Society to make a deal to help me get rid of this curse.” With each phrase, flames burst from my mouth. I’d never trust him again, but I could fake bargain and stall for time.
“Okay, I can do that.” Fitch grabbed the railing and climbed onto one of the bridge supports trying to get away from my flame. Trying to get higher.
He’d given in too easily.
“Liar.” The flame leapt out of my mouth.
His bushy eyebrows smoked. The expression of fear froze on his face. His eyes popped out of their sockets. He understood my anger. He realized I wasn’t afraid of him. That I’d changed. He leaned back holding onto the rail, wavering hundreds of feet over the frigid bay waters.
A car horn blared.
I jumped and swung around to see.
A black SUV screeched to a halt shocking me out of my intense bargain of words with…
Fitch.
I turned back around.
He was gone.
I leaned over the edge of the rail where he’d just been standing.
Fitch’s body fell like an informant dropping names. He’d never survive the fall and the freezing waters and the dizzying currents.
His long, drawn-out scream burnt my ears and echoed in my head.
And would forever.
Fitch was dead.
Finally, I was free from the man who’d run my life since I was young. But what would be my new alternative?
Two men dressed in black hopped out of the car. The goons from Lombard Street.
I tried to take a breath but couldn’t get air in my lungs. My brain went into full overload searching for an escape. There was nowhere to run. I was surrounded by the railing on one side with the churning ocean below and the two men in front of me.
Turning my head, I studied the driver of the SUV. His dark head nearly touched the ceiling of the over-sized vehicle. His golden-gloved hand held tight to the steering wheel. His sharp white smile flashed in the darkness.
X.
The goons used the gloves like pinchers to take hold of my arms. The gold mesh dug through my T-shirt and scraped at my skin. Twisting my body, I kicked with my legs. I opened my mouth to scream. Fire burst from my mouth again.
I was turning into a fire breathing Chimera.
The goons leaned away, but still held my arms like a vise. X jumped out of the car and pulled an orange box from his pocket, opened it, and tossed a white powder.
; My flames disappeared. The light inside me extinguished, too. I thought I’d had a fighting chance with fire. I gathered my breath and my anger, ready to put on another light show.
X moved in closer. One of the goons yanked both my arms behind my back, pulling on the sockets. The other goon pried my mouth open. The sharp mesh tore the skin of my cheeks and chin.
X poured the white powder down my throat, bopping the bottom of the box to make sure it went in my mouth.
I gagged and choked. The powder tasted like soft chalk. My saliva mixed with the whiteness leaving my throat feeling clumpy and clogged. “What is that?”
“Baking soda.” X grabbed the backpack and pulled it off my arm. “I’ll take this. Wouldn’t want to break anything.”
I wanted to break him.
The goons dragged, pulled, and yanked me toward the SUV. I did my best to fight, but it was two against one and I couldn’t use my zapping or my flames. They shoved me into the back seat of the car.
The goons placed me in the middle. They got in on either side, blocking escape. The slamming of the car doors reverberated inside my hollow chest. One of the goons gave me an arrogantly lazy smile, a we-got-you-now smile.
My chest burned inside like I’d swallowed my own fire. My fury ran so strong and deep I swore the moon moved a little faster in the sky.
If you’re in there Tut, I could use some help. Or advice. Or even a friendly voice.
Silence greeted me. I was alone in this struggle.
The goons held me tight. Even so, I twisted and yanked. “Let me out.”
X screeched over the bridge. I didn’t know what their plan was or where they were taking me. Terror tore through my chest. Confusion rocked my mind. I had to get out, break free.
I clenched my fists holding back my temper. I could do nothing now. But later, when I got the chance, I’d escape. I had the power. I had Tut’s knowledge behind me. I had my own determination.
X faced forward as if what I’d done had been a passing misfortune. “You caused a lot of unnecessary trouble with that trick at the loading dock. Picking up a boy was not part of the plan.”
Xander’s words at the museum returned to haunt me. Your plan was doomed to fail.
Fresh pain assaulted my stupidity. He’d tried to warn me, tried to help. I should’ve trusted his judgment and never called Fitch. I was the street-smart kid who’d learned every lesson Fitch had taught, except the one about not trusting the teacher. Xander had been cosseted and hidden from the world. All he knew were books, and yet I’d been the one fooled.
At least he wasn’t here to be captured. This confirmed I’d done the right thing. I loved him and didn’t want him hurt. My heart pounded trying to escape the jail of my ribcage. I did truly love him. Deep, true, forever love. I should’ve told him, but then he would never have left.
And now it was too late.
I gritted my teeth and spat. “Xander warned me about you.”
“Xander played his own game.” X snuck a glance back. His gaze gleamed with a sharp light that made me shiver. “Xander knew there was a way to end the burnout.”
“No, he didn’t.” He thought the oils were involved, but he didn’t know for sure. How dare X try to tarnish my image of Xander. He cared about me, possibly loved me. “And he didn’t believe you knew how to end the curse either.”
“You found the Society’s plans, didn’t you?”
I remembered how I’d found the instructions on the computer and printed them. I’d read most of the information, but Xander had ripped off part of one page.
The scene in the library came back to me. Xander pulling out books from the bookshelf at random and sending me to the computer. How he led me to the worship room called the Holy of Holies. How I fell against the Nilometer and he looked inside…
How did he know to look inside?
Doubts tick-tick-ticked in my head, like loyalties clashing back and forth and back and forth. I didn’t know what to believe. I thought I could trust Fitch and I’d been wrong. Dead wrong. Could I trust my instincts anymore? Could I trust Xander?
X’s harsh laughter bounced around the enclosed car mocking me. “The boy knew all seven oils were needed to complete the process.”
Xander had known every oil’s name and use.
“He knew the oils had to be mixed with sand from the Nile in a special chalice under lock and key.”
He’d mentioned needing to keep the oils separate until they’d found all seven.
“He believed only the Society had access to the chalice.” X shook his head indicating I’d been an idiot.
Xander had been vague about his plans to bargain with the Society. Could it have been his position for the oils and my life?
“He was bringing you back to the Society.” Each word X spoke was like a slap to the face.
Every inch of my skin stung. My heart numbed with bitterness. My brain shocked by the reality.
Xander had lied to me. Used me. Betrayed me.
No. He’d been upset by my betrayal. He’d only been angry because I’d called Fitch ruining his plans. That’s all. If I hadn’t pushed him away, he would’ve stayed by my side. He would’ve protected me. He cared about me. Didn’t he?
Listen to your heart, Tut whispered.
An image of Xander’s smile when we’d danced in the bay soothed my temper. His protective stance on Lombard Street made me feel safe. His kiss in the fountain warmed my heart. His caring for my needs when he brought me food lightened my soul.
I loved him. I had to trust him. I should listen to my heart like Tut said or even my good memories of Xander would be gone.
“The Society didn’t know how to end the curse.” They’d said so in the park. “They planned to use my power and let it burnout.” Let me die.
“Imbeciles.” X slammed the steering wheel. “They never trusted my research. Refused to invest in it. Never cared what happened to the host.”
My gaze took in my current circumstances. “And you do?”
“I used to. Now, I care what happens to the power.” X exited the highway and swung a u-turn to head back over the Golden Gate Bridge, back to San Francisco. At least X had been honest about his evil intent.
“And you’re not bringing me back to the Society?”
“No, we’re going to the museum.”
Reverse. My thoughts tumbled to the day this all started. The day I’d been led by Fitch to the slaughter. The day I’d first seen Xander and noticed his eyes. The day my entire future had changed.
“Why?” Why return to the scene of the crime?
“The chalice is there.” X’s harsh laughter ricocheted around the enclosed space of the car. “I need the chalice to end the burnout and control the power.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Olivia
Entering the museum just before dawn, I tried to shake off the sluggishness of my muscles as the two goons guided me to the back door of the museum. So much had changed since the fateful night where I’d first encountered Xander. We should’ve been united in this quest. Instead, we were both lost souls.
Lost to each other.
At least I wasn’t taking him down with me. I’d die before going along with X’s scheme. Ending the burnout was the only thing I’d agree to. I would not let him use me to rule the world.
We were greeted by a pale-faced museum employee with a nervous nod. The man let us in the backdoor without a word. He unarmed a new security system, unlocked the exhibit, and left. Ducking under the yellow crime scene tape, we entered the Tut exhibit.
I squinted from the harsh fluorescent lights’ glare, the exact opposite of the first time I’d been in this room. The hieroglyphics on the sarcophagus screamed that this was the final resting place of a beloved cat. I could now read the ancient lettering. We walked right past the case with the now-missing amulet. Instead, X led the way to a lighted case holding an elaborately designed alabaster cup.
The case was open, and I read the hieroglyphic text surround
ing the rim of the cup. A wish that King Tut spend millions of years sitting with his face to the north wind and his eyes beholding beauty.
Ha. Only I knew that he was in his own form of purgatory hearing Ankhesenamen’s voice but unable to reach her. While Ankhesenamen spent eternity searching for him.
The cup handles featured flowers and buds of the lotus holding a male figure on one side and a female figure on the other. Each held a symbol for eternal life. The unreadable artist signature at the base lay just above the name of the person who commissioned the piece.
Ankhesenamen.
My heart ached for the lonely queen. Had she hoped to end Tut’s curse before her death?
X lifted the cup and placed it on the cat sarcophagus.
The goons pushed me forward. Wiggling my shoulders, I struggled against them pretending resistance. I didn’t plan to run yet. First, I needed to learn how X planned to stop the burnout.
X pulled a sealed plastic bag out of his pocket holding glossy, black sand. He opened the bag and held it up. “Sand from the banks of the Nile.”
“Did you want to make sandcastles?” I couldn’t show him my curiosity. By riling him, he might slip and then I could figure out my next step.
“I’m creating a power controller.” X’s eyes flashed with intelligence and satisfaction. “I call it the Sol Control.”
“Control of what?” My brain ran around in circles. I needed to appear passive until he showed me how to end the burnout, but before he tried to take control of my powers. “You said you once cared about the person hosting Tut’s soul.”
“I did. That’s how this started.” X scanned the room, looking anywhere but at me. Did he feel any guilt for what he was about to do? “I had to do some unscrupulous things to pay for travel to Egypt to complete my research, and I realized the Society didn’t care about me or about whoever hosted the soul. Saving your life should be gift enough.”
“Not if it’s not my life to live. If I’m enslaved.” If the world suffered.
“Save the drama for when we contact the President.” X took off the gold gloves. “Hand me the oils one at a time.”
