Harlan laid a hand on JD’s arm, stopping him from crossing the threshold, his concerns echoing Olivia’s own. “Is it safe? I don’t want to get stuck in there.”
“I’ll come in with you,” Lucien said, confidently, “just in case.”
The room was circular, again carved from pure emerald, its surface polished to a glassy shine, and once again covered in lines of script. And there were heaps of weapons, much like in Raziel’s Temple. They were piled on the floor and displayed on shelves carved into the walls. Everyone started to pick them up, examining the engravings and quality. They were in good condition, polished and untarnished, as if they had been stored there for hours rather than centuries.
“Herne’s horns,” Barak said, lifting one of the shields from a haphazard stack of them. “There are so many. I don’t understand why they’re here.”
Nahum ignored the weapons and instead read the script. “Ancient Aramaic,” he noted with a frown. “These are lists of Fallen Angel Houses and their Nephilim.”
“All of them?” Jackson asked.
“Perhaps.” Nahum scanned the walls. “There are hundreds, maybe thousands listed here. Unlikely that there are weapons for every House, though. There’s nowhere near enough.”
Barak nodded in agreement. “This is a sample. Why?”
“Thoth, or Hermes, or whatever the fuck you want to call him,” Maggie said, “must have collected them. If there were as many of you as you say all those years ago, it would have been easy, right?”
Olivia nodded in agreement as she examined a richly engraved dagger with a polished horn handle. “This place isn’t just a place of learning. It stores history, too.” She glanced up, aware that the others were staring at her. “What? It makes sense. The lists of angels, the histories of Biblical figures, and probably those we’ve never heard of except in myth, and there’s so much more here that we don’t know about yet. It’s like a museum!”
JD’s mouth fell open in shock. “I hadn’t thought of it like that, but yes, you’re right!”
“Which means,” she said, as she studied the hoard of weapons, “that these aren’t here for any threatening reasons, they’re here as a reminder of Nephilim might and power. That’s all.” She smiled at Nahum, noting his tension seeping from his shoulders. “You could use these, if you wanted. Maybe that’s why they were in Raziel’s cave, too. He must have known that it would take a Nephilim to enter. Perhaps they were a gift.”
Jackson laughed. “I much prefer that theory.” He nodded to the doorway, “It’s still open. I suspect it will remain open, now that Lucien has activated it. We have earned the right to enter. I also suspect, JD, that you would have worked it out yourself, given time.”
“Of course I would,” JD declared imperiously, making Olivia suppress a smile. “Come, Lucien, let’s open up the other rooms, too.”
Twenty-Five
Niel landed in Istanbul at three in the afternoon. He’d showered off the stench of blood, alchemical weapons, smoke, and death, and was rested and wearing clean clothes, ready for adventure. For a moment he stood blinking in the sunshine, as the scents and sounds of Istanbul cast him back centuries.
No, he mentally urged himself, do not get lost in memories. This city did not exist in his time, but nevertheless, it triggered memories of other, similar places with equally evocative buildings and inhabitants. He hailed a taxi, and was soon threading through crowded streets that he longed to explore.
Unfortunately, time was short. Mouse had already been sent details of their plans, and he trusted she had researched the best means of entry. He adjusted his jacket again, and caught sight of his face in the rear view mirror. He looked fine. Better than fine, actually, he thought, grooming his beard.
Stop it. She nearly killed him. This is just a job, and then it’s done.He wouldn’t need to see her again.
He had texted Mouse a couple of times, deciding to organise his plans with her directly. He didn’t need Gabe acting as a go-between. Besides, he knew his brothers and Shadow found it amusing. Screw them. He would rise above it. From Mouse’s tone—if texts even had a tone—she was being just as professional.
He checked into his hotel, pleased that he’d organised it himself. It was a small, boutique place on a side road, and lowkey, just as he liked it. It was luxurious, though. He may as well enjoy their newfound wealth. According to the last message from Mouse, she was already there. Pausing only to unpack his scant belongings and observe the view from his window, he called her. Minutes later, he was heading up to the next floor, where her room was situated.
He knocked on her door, and then realised he’d never seen her face before, only her eyes. For some reason, this made him more anxious. He set his jaw, prepared for anything. Or so he thought.
The door swung wide open, and a startlingly pretty woman looked up at him. Her eyes were exactly as he’d remembered them. Almond shaped, dark pupils, teasing. But her lips were fuller than he’d imagined, her smile broader, her cheeks rounder. Her eyes darted to the hall. “Niel, you better come in.”
“You arrived without any problems, then?” he asked, wondering why he was asking such a lame question. Of course she fucking had.
“Actually, I was a bit worried I might not get through passport control. I’ve had issues here in the past.” She raised a groomed eyebrow, amused. “It seems my new passport is just fine.”
“Great! On Europe’s Most Wanted list?”
“Something like that.” She walked to the coffee machine and kettle in the corner, and he took the opportunity to appreciate her figure. She was dressed in slim-fitting jeans and a fine knit jumper that hugged her petite, lithe figure. “Tea, coffee, or beer? My fridge is fully stocked.”
“Beer, please.” He studied her room. It was a mirror image of his own, and had a narrow balcony that looked over a side street. The furnishings were rich in colour, and he had another ache of homesickness before it vanished. Standing on the balcony, he said, “This is a little more sheltered than mine. If I have to fly, I can land here.”
“Planning escape routes already?”
“I always like to be prepared.”
She smirked as she handed him his beer and kept one for herself. “Aren’t you the boy scout?”
It stung, for some reason. Like she was patronising him. It made him want to strike back. “Well, seeing as you electrocuted me last time, I always like to have options when working with you. I have a healthy sense of self-preservation. If it wasn’t for Gabe, I wouldn’t be here.”
Her amusement vanished. “I told you, I did that to save your life.”
He shrugged. “When you could have just included me in your plans.”
“That was impossible! You are infuriating!”
“So are you. I’m still pissed off about it, so get used to it. I presume you have a way to get inside the museum?”
She glared at him for a moment longer as she swigged her beer. “Yes, actually. We’re heading there very soon and strolling right through the front door.”
“Why?”
“Because I have stolen from there before, many years ago. It was a nightmare. It has an excellent alarm system and a large number of guards. Our best bet is to walk in and hide until it’s closed. Even then, we’ll have to avoid the guards.”
“Are you insane?”
