Mirror of the Gods, page 9
Ridder, with a few angry grumbles under his breath, disappeared up the stairs, and Jay snickered while rolling her eyes.
“Alright, tomorrow we’ll make our way to the Bodleian, but only a few of us should go. All of us together draws attention,” Dira was saying as she stepped out of the kitchen, pocketing her phone.
“I’m more of an asset with you than I am just sitting around here,” Clint insisted as he dropped his bags beside the couch, glancing at Lucy, who was staring at a painting on the wall.
“Lucy, Clint, and I will go, then. We can meet back here around noon to go over what we’ve found.” Kreager and Jay nodded their assent.
“Does that work, Lucy?” Dira asked, watching as Lucy was jolted out of her thoughts and turned with a timid smile. Her gray eyes were dull, missing their usual spark of life. She needs rest.
“Sorry, what?”
“You, Clint, and I will go to the Bodleian tomorrow to search for some answers. The smaller the group, the better, for now.”
Lucy nodded tiredly. Dira studied her for a moment then sighed, glancing at Ridder who’d just reappeared at the base of the stairs. They communicated without words. He nodded silently, eyes flickering to the young woman who looked dead on her feet.
“Show her to her room,” Dira said. “Get some sleep, Lucy. We’ll leave here at eight o’clock, sharp.”
Lucy just nodded at Dira’s words and followed dutifully behind Ridder, their footsteps fading as they climbed the stairs to the second floor. Clint turned, keen on saying something to the eldest Vanir now that they were alone, only to find her staring at him.
“Like what you see?” he asked cockily, crossing his arms over his chest, lips turning up into a small smirk.
“Oh, Dr. McCain,” Dira crooned with a small laugh. “Not even a little bit.”
She left the room without even a backward glance, leaving behind a partially wounded Clint and a snickering Jeger.
As she climbed the stairs, Dira chuckled softly to herself, glancing up just as Ridder rounded the corner. His face was downturned, eyes pensive, deep in thought. Her brother glanced over his shoulder as she stepped onto the landing and saw just what he was looking at. Lucy’s bedroom was at the end of the hall, her door open.
Dira glanced between the two as Lucy, unaware of the eyes on her, reached up to undo her bun and let her warm brown tresses tumble down around her shoulders in a wild mass of curls.
Ridder looked away as Lucy began running her fingers through it, starting at her temples, and massaging her scalp. His dark, fathomless eyes turned to his sister, meeting her blue ones evenly.
“She’s mortal,” was all Dira could say, watching as her brother softened entirely.
Ridder inhaled deeply, then sighed heavily as he held his sister’s intense gaze, his face more serious than she’d ever seen it. His usual nonchalant attitude and his blasé mannerisms were all gone.
“I know.”
Chapter Eleven
2016 CE
Oxford
Perhaps it was the jetlag, or even the inordinate amount of time she’d slept on the plane, that had Lucy staring at the darkened ceiling as sleep evaded her after just a few short hours of rest. Maybe it was the fear of seeing some terrifyingly vivid scenes play out behind her eyes yet again. Whatever the reason, she sighed and sat up in her bed, swinging her legs over so they dangled off the edge. Tired of simply staring off into space, she resigned herself to being awake.
Shoving her hair out of her face, she moved to the door of her room and gently cracked it open. The house was dark, all its occupants asleep. Lucy took a chance and slipped out into the hallway. The wood floor creaked only a little.
Barefoot, she tiptoed as quietly as she could down the stairs, and heaved a small sigh of relief that no one had stirred as she hit the bottom step. The main parlor was decorated with antiques, the walls covered in gilded paintings tastefully scattered about in a sort of haphazard but inviting way. Dumbfounded by the beauty and history that surrounded her, Lucy walked toward the kitchen, and through it to the conservatory.
It being completely made of glass, she was able to see the night sky stretching out above her. Well, if she wasn’t going to sleep, she may as well enjoy the night sky with a cup of tea. Moving back into the kitchen, she flipped on the lights and took the blue kettle off the stove, filled it with water and set it on the burner.
When she could see steam rising from the spout, she took it off the stove, not wanting the shrill cry of the kettle to wake anyone. It took her a few minutes to hunt up a bag of chamomile tea and some honey. Once the tea was how she liked it, Lucy padded back into the conservatory and climbed onto the plush cream couch. She cradled the tea to her chest, letting the warmth soak into her bones, soothing still sore muscles and nerves.
“Can’t sleep?”
Lucy was lucky she remembered the scalding hot tea in her hands, just barely holding back her jolt at the sound of Ridder’s voice slicing through the silence around her.
He stood in the doorway. Despite wearing a plain black T-shirt and a loose pair of black joggers, he still managed to look like a dark angel, perfectly disheveled and handsome.
Not an angel, her mind supplied, a descendant of the gods.
Swallowing back the yelp that had threatened to bubble up past her lips, she nodded. “I think I slept too much on the plane.”
He nodded solemnly before stepping into the room and taking a seat on the love seat opposite her couch. He stretched his arms across the back of the couch, settling in. Lucy was quiet for a few moments. She desperately hoped he couldn’t hear her frantically beating heart. Shadowed, he was more intimidating than he had been earlier. The darkness shrouded him, wrapping around him. But she didn’t feel afraid of him. Only a mixture of feelings she couldn’t quite discern.
“Ridder, can I ask something?”
He didn’t respond, merely lifted his eyes to hers and waited, tipping his chin up just a bit. She shifted a bit until her legs were crossed under her, the mug held tightly in her hands, mustering her courage. The silver cuffs shone in the pale cold light of the moon that streamed through the conservatory’s glass roof.
“How did you get used to them?” she asked. “The visions, I mean. Seeing things so vividly, hearing them...” She shivered as the memories washed over her.
“Well, I’ve been doing it all my life,” he said. He rubbed at his jaw, sighing softly, then continued, “I would have had more training if our parents had lived. But my father could do the same. Could see things before they happened. Not as far back as you, so I’m at a loss there. But back a way, and forward. Even just a few moments forward, he could see.” He ran a hand through his tousled dark hair. Lucy nodded thoughtfully.
“I won’t lie to you, querida. You're having the bracelets is problematic. It means we must protect you along with them. And the fact that you can use them is in and of itself a sign you are something of an anomaly.”
Lucy’s spine straightened as she digested his words. She wasn’t insulted by them, but rather clinging onto the last thing he said. “Really? Why?”
“None but us Vanir, or those gifted by the gods, has ever been able to use the artifacts we have,” Ridder said nonchalantly, as if he hadn’t just blown Lucy away with such a revelation. She stared at him, gaping like a fish.
“I’ve never met someone else with the ability to see before, but I know that it’s not a power gifted to you by the cuffs,” he said with a shrug. With a glimmer of something in his eyes, Ridder stepped up to where she sat, cupping her chin, and lifting her face to his. The pad of his thumb swept just beneath her bottom lip. Her heart skipped a beat, and her stomach swooped.
“If you need to discuss it, I’m here. But don’t wake me up for it,” he advised with a low, velvety chuckle, his voice smooth and deep.
“Thanks,” she murmured with a small smile, and watched as he nodded, then turned and disappeared back into the shadows of the house without a sound.
Lucy didn’t know how long she sat there, mind swirling, going over the new information Ridder had divulged. At some point her eyes slid shut, the empty mug discarded on the side table, and curled into the cushions of the couch, she slipped away into a blessedly dreamless sleep.
***
“She’s adorable. Can I keep her?” Jay asked softly. Kreager chuckled and shook his head, ushering his sister out and away from Lucy.
In the kitchen, Dira started some coffee.
“You’re quiet this morning,” Kreager said softly.
“Not for our guest’s benefit, surely?” Jay said with a grin.
“Why is that so surprising?” Dira murmured.
“It’s just that we’ve never seen our stoic sister be so considerate to a normal mortal before,” Kreager said. “Not since we were children, at least.”
“I could have sworn you hated them,” Jay teased.
It wasn’t that Dira hated mortals. On the contrary, she protected them with her life and was ready to sacrifice herself for them. But she’d never truly gotten close to someone before.
“But maybe not this one,” Jay said thoughtfully. Perhaps the small brunette snoring softly on the couch was going to change that. More likely she already had.
The smell of coffee woke Lucy, pulling her from her deep slumber and groggily off the couch. Stumbling into the kitchen she pressed a hand to her eyes, rubbing with the heel of her palm. Dira held out a cup of coffee to her.
“Thanks,” Lucy murmured, her voice hoarse. It was hot still, so she puffed out a few breaths then sipped, moaning happily. Dira’s blue eyes twinkled in amusement.
“Don’t judge me,” Lucy said, gaining a snort in return.
“You’ve got just over an hour before we leave,” Dira told her, and watched as that information sank in, waking her up more than the coffee.
“Alright, I’m gonna go shower and get ready then.”
With that, Lucy skirted around an annoyed and extremely sleepy-looking Ridder in the doorway. She scampered up the stairs, but not before shooting the sleep-ruffled man a small smile as she passed, her demeanor suddenly bashful and shy.
Intrigued, Dira leaned back against the counter, crossing her ankles and peering at her brother over the rim of her own mug. She watched as his prickly exterior softened a bit, his eyes following Lucy up the stairs. Feeling Dira’s gaze, he met her stare and frowned in annoyance at the amusement on her face.
“Well?”
“Had a small talk last night, that’s all,” Ridder groused, ignoring the look Dira and his other siblings were giving him as he passed them on his way into the kitchen.
“She grows on you, doesn’t she?” Dira asked sincerely, not a hint of teasing in her tone.
The only response she got was a low grunt as he poured himself a cup of coffee.
***
Upstairs, Lucy slid past a bedraggled Clint, avoiding him like a mouse would a lion, and padded into her room. She snatched up her backpack and a change of clothes, and made her way to the bathroom, locking the door behind her.
When she stepped out of the shower, having gone the entire time vision-free, Lucy breathed out a sigh of relief. After close to forty-five minutes, she stepped out of the muggy bathroom, fresh-faced and wide awake. She had decided on jeans, a long-sleeve white V-neck, and the brown boots she’d had on the day before. Even with the heat from the summer sun, she was almost positive the inside of the library would be air-conditioned and cold.
Her hair was in a French braid, still damp from the shower, and she applied a light dusting of makeup before leaving her room and heading down the stairs. Over her shoulder she carried her purse filled with necessary items, a notebook, pens and highlighters, to take notes on whatever they found.
It seemed everyone but her was down there, all milling about doing different things. Ridder was reading a newspaper at the dining room table, unbothered by the equipment spread out around him. Jay was typing away on a laptop. Large cases and thick cable wires were coiled around it. Dira leaned against the door frame, speaking quietly to Kreager, while Clint, ready for the day as well, sat on the couch quietly watching the siblings. As her foot hit the last step, the others glanced up, and Lucy tried her best not to waver.
In a room filled with four people who had seen every major event of the world in the last five centuries, and a well-renowned, albeit grumpy, man with two PhDs, she felt incredibly inadequate. What right did she have to be there?
None, except for the silver bracelets hidden beneath her sleeves.
Clint pushed up from the couch and hit his hands against his thighs. “Finally,” he huffed.
Lucy had to fight back the urge to apologize, to shrink back. She missed the dark scowl Ridder shot at Clint, while she squared her shoulders and met his eyes. She was determined to be of use to everyone and to act as if she belonged. Even if she didn’t feel it. And Lucy refused to let anyone else make her feel lesser than them.
“It’s fifteen minutes before the set time we were to leave. I have no reason to apologize,” Lucy said softly, yet firmly, and glanced away as Clint blinked in surprise. Dira quirked a brow and gave a small shrug, then pushed off the wall. Ridder gazed at Lucy with dark approval. Jay stared at her screen, fist raising in the air in solidarity, and Kreager’s lips twitched into a small smile. Jay called Lucy over, passing her a small piece of paper as she mumbled a few things, her eyes never leaving the screen in front of her.
“Let’s go, then,” Dira said. Lucy gave a small wave to the others and followed her out into the soft morning sun and crisp air. Clint followed behind, muttering something under his breath. Lucy was more amused by his mood than annoyed or angry.
None of them talked during the drive to the campus, but Lucy didn’t mind, simply closing her eyes and enjoying the quiet. When the car stopped, she opened her eyes and stared up at the beautiful architecture of Oxford University. With its taupe stone buildings and high spires, Lucy was in awe of it all.
In her astonishment, she missed Dira and Clint climbing from the cars until both doors slammed shut, leaving her to scramble to get out. As she caught up with the two, they were deep in a discussion about how to explain why they needed access to the library.
“I could just say I’m writing a book and some of the reference materials I need are housed inside,” Clint was saying as they walked. With both of them having long legs and a quick stride, Lucy almost needed to jog to keep up.
“That could work. If it doesn’t, we go with my plan,” Dira said. They passed under a large archway that Lucy craned her neck to stare at.
***
“Do I wanna know what her plan is?” Clint said with a glance over his shoulder at Lucy, his blue eyes dancing with amusement.
“Probably not.”
Lucy nodded and gave a little sigh, frowning to herself. Clint hung back for a moment, so he was walking beside her.
“I’m sorry for being snippy,” he said. “I was just reminded how we’re such outsiders when all of them are together. And I was alone, by myself while realizing that.” He slid his hands into the pocket of his jeans, the sleeves of his dark green button-down rolled up.
“It’s alright... Well, no, it’s not,” Lucy said with a small smile. “But I forgive you.” She hesitated for only a moment before continuing.
“I’m sorry you got dragged into this, but before being annoyed remember I’m the one whose life may well depend on a way to get these damn things off... Although I get that it was my mistake that got me here,” she amended sheepishly.
“I’ll remember,” he said lightly, and gave her a genuine smile.
“I hate to interrupt the moment,” Dira said, “but we’re here.” She smiled as Lucy stared up at the outside of the Bodleian. Dira and Clint gave her a moment before they headed inside, jostling Lucy from her thoughts.
“Dr. McCain, is that you?” a male voice asked off to the side, getting the trio’s attention. A tall, slender man, impeccable dressed in a navy suit, white dress shirt and matching tie, was gliding toward them. A gold tie bar along with a matching Rolex and signet ring flashed in the light as he motioned with his hand. His age was only noticeable by crow’s-feet at the corners of his eyes, and his thick dark brown hair was swept back in an elegant and perfectly precise style.
“Dr. Foster, how are you?” Clint said jovially. Dira shifted on her feet and looked backward, turning her face away from the newcomer, while Lucy simply blinked widely at him.
Dr. James Foster was a world-renowned authority when it came to the study of anthropology and ancient civilizations. His findings in Central America were used in classrooms all over the world, even twenty years later.
“What brings you to this side of the pond?” Dr. Foster asked. His dark brown eyes studied Clint for a moment, then flicked back to Dira and Lucy.
“Here for some research materials, working on a new book. Ah, James, this is Lucy Sheridan, a talented student of mine. She helped with the dig out in Norway and is working as my research assistant this semester.” Clint motioned to Lucy, stunned at his side. He realized Dira was no longer standing near them, having moved farther behind them. She must not have wanted to be introduced. James reached out a hand, which Lucy clasped immediately and firmly.
“A pleasure,” Dr. Foster practically purred and raised her hand to his lips, brushing her knuckles with a kiss.
“I... It’s a pleasure, I mean, I—” Lucy stammered, starstruck. She and Clint both missed the way the man’s eyes flickered down to the exposed end of the bracelet on her left hand.
“It’s an honor to meet you, Dr. Foster. Your book detailing your findings along the Incan trail and at Machu Picchu were incredibly inspiring,” Lucy finally managed, earning a wide, brilliant grin from the man.
“Well, Ms. Sheridan, the pleasure is all mine. I would love to get coffee with the two of you to discuss your recent dig. I had no idea you had been in Norway, Clint. Are you busy now?” James asked. “And your friend?” He looked toward Dira, who stood just off to the side.
