“No. The museum closes at six, and I will get us into the staff areas. I know the place quite well, having spent hours in there just appreciating the displays.”
“And the private areas?”
Mouse’s arms were crossed, one hand gripping the beer bottle, a challenge in her eyes. “Less well, but I have a rough idea of the layout.” Her fingernails were short and unvarnished, gracing slender fingers that were devoid of jewellery, and they tapped the bottle repeatedly. “Would you rather break in at night?”
He dipped his head in a sarcastic bow. “I will do whatever you advise, but if you set me up, I won’t be half so accommodating with your health as I was before.”
“I am not setting you up! We walk in there together, and we walk out of there together. You will need to take a backpack that’s big enough to get the horn in. Maybe a change of t-shirt. They search bags on the way in, so no weapons.”
Niel frowned. “Why a change of t-shirt?”
“Seeing as we’re staying there overnight, I’d like to look different if we’re spotted on camera. We’ll emerge into the morning crowd and exit.”
“Stay overnight? That’s hours, which means ample opportunity for the guards to find us! Are there cameras?”
“Lots in the museum, but nowhere near as many in the staff areas. Especially in the old storage rooms.” She seemed very confident.
“How many times have you been in the staff area? Really.”
“Three—no, four times. The guards rarely open the locked rooms. We just need to get in one and hide. Then we explore later.”
“And you stole an item every time?”
“Every time, undetected, from deep in the basements.”
Niel drank his beer, watching her as he did so. It was a good suggestion, but being in the museum for so long, especially with The Horn of Desolation, didn’t sound like a good idea.
Mouse picked up on his hesitancy. “If you have objections, say now, but this is the best option.”
“Do you know what we’re stealing?”
“No. Just something old and weird and bulky.”
Niel kicked a chair out, putting aside his animosity, and sat at the small table. “Have a seat. This is no ordinary item. You’ve heard of Fallen Angels?”
“Of course. You’re a Nephilim, and they fathered you.” Her pretty eyes flitted over him, staring at his shoulders. “I haven’t forgotten that, or your wings. It was a memorable night flight.”
He wanted to add that he was always memorable, but decided against it. “Well, we are stealing a horn that belonged to one of the biggest and baddest. It’s quite a story.”
“Is it long? Because we have to go soon.”
“I’ll make it quick, but trust me, you’ll want to hear this.”
Nahum studied the script on the twisted stone columns, wishing Ash was here instead of him. These words were gibberish. He rubbed his eyes, blinked, and tried to focus. Damn alchemists and their weird speech.
“Are you okay?” Olivia asked, calling up to where he was studying, halfway up the column.
“Fine. I don’t think this is what we need. I’ll be down in a moment.”
Olivia was another reason for his ill temper. She had shared a room with Maggie the previous night, and he hadn’t had a chance to talk to her alone. He’d had some romantic notion that she might need his protection, and he could angle an excuse for sharing her room. Instead, he’d been relegated to a room down the hall. At least he’d had a bed. Lucien had slept on a sofa, admittedly a large one, while Harlan and Jackson had shared a room. Of course, Barak shared with Estelle, and both had already left for the airport with Lucien. He was worried about their safety and wished he could go, but someone had to stay and find a way to stop Belial for good.
When he finally flew down to the ground, Olivia looked pensive. “Nothing useful?”
“No. This is madness. Finding what we need could take years.”
Olivia nodded absently as she took his news in. “Look, if we don’t find a spell to negate Belial’s power right now, it will be okay. The jewels have been around for years without causing outright destruction. We’ll root them out.”
“And my brothers? And Shadow and Estelle? If Jiri draws on Belial’s power, it won’t be a fight, it will be a slaughter.”
“They have JD’s weapons and bombs.”
“It’s still an unequal fight.”
She swallowed, casting her gaze to the floor. “It’s my fault. I wish I’d never have found those damn things.”
He reached forward and lifted her chin so he could look her in the eyes. “It’s not your fault. It’s Belial’s and the damn Brotherhood.”
She nodded. “I know, but…”
“No buts. Where are Maggie and the others?”
“Maggie is dealing with the dead bodies. Her team is on the way, with Layla. Jackson is helping her. Harlan is with JD, working on other strategies.”
He took advantage of their privacy, and stepped closer. “Are you okay after last night? I haven’t really had a chance to ask.”
“It was a bit of a shock to be attacked, but I’m fine. I need to improve my aim. It’s shit.”
He laughed. “Well, I didn’t want to complain, but you almost killed me a couple of times.”
