Jack
By half past eight in the evening, our team was hiding in dense trees outside Stark Manor. We watched three separate carriages arrive, and Nicholas, Richard, and Mr. Knowlton enter the house. No guards were standing outside the house, so when the carriages drove to the stables, Bess, and I darted across the lawn and stopped outside the dining parlor window.
“They should learn to bolt their windows,” Bess said as she opened the unlatched window. Once inside, I moved to the open door with Bess on my heels.
“Absolutely not!” Hannah’s voice said, with a growl to it.
“Be sensible. Think of the advantages,” Richard whined. He whined.
“I know what you are about. You want me to marry Nicholas so that you can use me to get to the Holy Order. They will never admit you without someone to speak for you,” Hannah shot back with disdain lacing her words.
Hannah works for the Holy Order.
“If you would but give me a chance, you would see my undeniable love—” Nicholas had said but was cut off by the sound of shrill, mocking laughter.
“The only thing you love is yourself! You want my money and my connections. Neither of which will you ever possess.”
“We stray from the point,” a deeper woman’s voice said. “The artifacts.”
“I want those artifacts returned,” Richard shouted. “I do not care if you have to tear apart the entire city. Find them!”
“At least we have the black box,” Nicholas said, “and Knowlton has the book of incantations.”
“You may be sure that I shall not let those rogues who prance around in masks find the book.” It was Charles Knowlton’s voice. My hand closed around the handle of my pistol. That book was said to explain the power of the artifacts.
“Sværd af lyn and dolk af hemmeligheder have been taken,” Nicholas sounded mournful.
We had both the sword of lighting and dagger of secrets, and it gave me great pleasure hearing how annoyed they were about it.
“We know, do we not, where den kop torden is to be found?” It was Richard’s voice again.
“Yes, it is in a strong box in Philadelphia,” Hannah’s said.
Where? Tell us where. My body leaned closer to the door, my anticipation high.
“You will acquire it, and you will bring it to me. I am sending Nicholas with you. I will not allow another failure, so if any stand in your way, deal with them as you deem necessary,” Richard instructed.
“What of my meeting with the men? That is to be tomorrow at midnight,” Nicholas said.
“Where are you meeting the men, Nicholas?” Charles Knowlton asked.
“Elfreth’s alley. Dimitri chose the team, but as you instructed, I will go to approve them.”
“By one you will meet our dear lady and together acquire the artifact. Now, let us adjourn.”
Bess and I sprinted across the dining parlor and left through the window.
Our team was stationed at different positions around the house, but Mariah was with our horses. We watched the house for a half hour, and when all three carriages drove away, we knew that there was no Levitas meeting.
When we assembled on the road, Bess told the team what was afoot. We did not know what Nicholas’s meeting was pertaining to, but if Dimitri chose the men, it could not be good. Elfreth’s alley was in a dangerous part of town where many immigrants and sailors resided. We settled it that I would attend the meeting, and when I knew what those men were ordered to do the rest of the team would come in and subdue them. Then, there was the matter of getting to the white phantom and stopping her and Nicholas from taking the artifact. Bess assigned Mariah to follow Nicholas when he left the alley. She would discover where he was going and make haste back to tell us. I was adamant that I would be the one to go after the white phantom.
“Under no circumstances would I let you go after her alone,” Bess retorted vehemently.
“Raven, this is something that I must do alone.” I was staring straight ahead, but there was no mistaking my determination and Bess knew it. The white phantom and I had a score to settle.
Phantoms In Philadelphia (Phantom Knights Book 1) Page 23
