JD pointed to the ground. “That is.”

Nahum had been so focussed on the walls that he hadn’t looked at the floor. He studied it now, JD and Harlan retreating to the walls to allow a better view. Patterns of dots in bronze were marked on the ground, and he realised they represented the columns. Seen from above, and at this scale, it was easy to see what they had missed in the larger cave. The columns were also arranged in the shape of a large six-pointed star, which explained why some areas of the walls did not have pillars close to them. In the centre was a smaller six-pointed star, representing the one in the cave that had the flame in the centre.

He shook his head. “I can’t believe I didn’t see the pattern!”

“It’s too big to take in, even though you can fly,” JD said, shrugging it off. “But now, it’s obvious. The text on the walls maps out what is where. We were right with what we have found so far, and this gives us more details. There are sections on astronomy, geology, the Gods, Goddesses, the movement of planets, their correspondences, some in far more detail than even I have discovered. Some,” he smiled smugly, “I already found out myself. And the mathematics here…breathtaking.”

Clearly outraged, Olivia said, “So why hide it away? We could have made progress much quicker!”

“It’s all about proving your worth. Knowledge is locked away behind layers of meaning. Lucien provided a shortcut, although I would have worked it out in time.”

Nahum didn’t doubt it. He scanned the text. “You said you have found out something to help us with Belial?”

He nodded, exchanging a nervous glance with Harlan. “I think so. The flame in the centre is the key. It seems that when used in the right way, it can undo great magic. Unravel it. But it might be dangerous.”

“There’s no might about it!” Harlan remonstrated. Unlike JD, Harlan looked refreshed and groomed, with no trace of stubble on his freshly shaved cheeks, but his eyes were shadowed with worry. “It essentially sounds like it breaks apart matter.”

“As in ‘unmakes’ something?” Olivia asked, forehead creasing with worry. “Is that even possible?”

“No.” JD jumped in quickly. “‘Unmake’ is the wrong word. Matter is matter. It can’t go anywhere. But it can be rearranged.”

Nahum’s head was already hurting. “Like when you melt down metals to make something else?”

“No, that is still metal. Instead, you make something else entirely.”

Nahum suggested something ridiculous. “Like cheese?”

“Yes, sort of. You change something fundamental. That’s what one branch of alchemy is all about. Changing base metals into gold, amongst other things. It’s what I did,” JD added cautiously, “when I became immortal. I unlocked something at the cell source in my body. I gave it renewable energy. I switched aging off. I didn’t turn myself into cheese or a chicken, but this formula here—” he tapped the wall, “suggests that is possible.”

“Transmutation. Isn’t that what some witches in fairy tales can do?” Harlan asked. “Become a frog or cat? Can any witches we know do that?”

“Not as far as I know,” Olivia said, but she looked excited by the idea. “I’ll ask Morgana!”

JD sighed. “I am, of course, explaining this at its most basic level, and clearly not very well.”

“Because we’re dumbasses,” Harlan explained.

“Because it’s complicated!”

“Hold on!” Nahum held his hand up. “Belial’s jewels contain his power. How does that help us with them? Are you saying you have found a way to remove his power?”

“I think so. But I would need everything here to assess and try, because I need the eternal flame to do it. Even then, well, I’m not sure at this stage where his power goes…”

Nahum rubbed his forehead. “I think I’d rather leave it contained where it is until we know more. A bloody great cloud of Belial’s power just wafting about sounds toxic. Like a cloud of nuclear waste.”

“That is the issue,” JD admitted. “We can melt down metals and destroy his jewels, but it’s his power that creates them and holds them together.” His eyes narrowed as his gaze sharpened, exacerbating his ferocious intellect. “Months ago, I talked to Gabe about the Igigi. He said that they used the Stone of Utu against the angelic horde, restricting their abilities. That precious stone contained the power of the sun, and unfortunately, I have no such thing, but we have an emerald cave…” He trailed off, thoughts clearly elsewhere.

Harlan regained his attention. “JD, you have harnessed the powers of gemstones in your weapons. Can you use gemstones in a similar way to make one that will destroy Belial’s weapons, and diminish his power?”

“I’ve already considered such a thing, but the eternal flame could help. You know, what has just struck me is that this place is—as Olivia says—a repository of knowledge, but Hermes was an alchemist, too. If you’re going to go to the trouble of making such a magnificent place, wouldn’t you work in it? I wonder…” He paused, eyes vacant, and then spun on his heel and marched out of the cave.

Harlan rolled his eyes and then ran after him. “JD, I wish you’d finish your damn sentences!”

Olivia started to follow them, but Nahum grabbed her hand and pulled her back to him.

She looked confused. “Aren’t we going, too?”

“In a minute,” he said, pulling her close and wrapping his fingers in her hair at the nape of her neck. “I want another kiss first.”

Twenty-Six

Gabe paced the terrace of their villa in La Calcinaia, a province of Elba where Cavo, the resort beach town, was situated.

Elba was a small island that was very popular with tourists, and Gabe was thankful that they were travelling in February, when tourism was low. Not only were there beautiful beaches and a pretty countryside, but there was also a huge amount of history and many ancient sites on the island, too. They had been able to pick up their accommodation through an online booking site at short notice, and the place was perfect for their needs. It sat on a hilltop with a huge swimming pool and a commanding view of the countryside and surrounding sea. Other villas and hotels were dotted about the hills, and Gabe wondered how close they could be to Jiri.

Darkness had already fallen, despite the fact that it was barely six in the evening, but the pool lights illuminated the paved area next to it. He was preparing to ring Ozan again, the third time he’d tried that day. He vowed this would be the last time. Either Ozan couldn’t talk for some reason, or wouldn’t because he didn’t know Gabe’s number. He didn’t want to call on Emre’s phone. It seemed cruel to offer Ozan hope that he was alive. Perhaps the deaths of the Nephilim who had attacked JD’s house had caused major issues. Gabe knew the devastation it would have caused if his brothers had died, but perhaps Jiri’s team was not like theirs.

Barak, Estelle, and Lucien had arrived only an hour after them, and all were inside, swapping stories with Ash and Shadow. As for Niel… Gabe checked his watch. He would be in the museum by now, and it would be closed. With luck, he would have hidden somewhere safe. It was pointless to worry about Niel; he could look after himself. Gabe had more pressing needs. Knowing he couldn’t put it off any longer, he called Ozan again, running through his rehearsed conversation as he started to pace. Within only a few rings, a deep male voice answered in Italian, his tone short and clipped.

“Hello? Oz speaking.”

Gabe was so shocked, he almost stumbled over his words. “Oz, my name is Gabreel, and I was given your number by Emre—don’t hang up!”

“Emre? How do know him? Who are you?”

“I’m a Nephilim, like you, and I’m calling to make you an offer.”

He didn’t answer, and Gabe heard shouts and raised voices in the background.

“Oz! Please, hear me out.”

“Wait!”

The background noise diminished, and Gabe imagined that perhaps Ozan was, like him, pacing a terrace on his own. He looked at the stars, paranoid that he might be ambushed, before shaking it off.

“I can talk now,” Ozan said quietly, his tone dripping with menace. “I know who you are. You are in the group that is pursuing Belial. You are lucky not to be standing in front of me, or I would kill you for what you have done.”

“I didn’t kill Emre, if that’s what you mean. I wasn’t there.”

“He is dead because of you.”

“He attacked my friends, not the other way around. They defended themselves.”

“If you hadn’t started this stupid hunt, they would all be alive!”

“And hundreds or thousands of others would be killed by Belial’s poison.”

“Emre was my brother. You know the way of the Nephilim. Have you called to gloat?” His voice was hard, but Gabe detected a trace of tiredness. Of regret.