Page 90 of Defying the Relic Hunter

“Going mano a mano with Uncle Saul is not a good idea, Kizzy,”Ethan said in my head.

“I’m not a soldier. Nor am I a second-class citizen and I refused to be treated like one. I’m a ghost whisperer. I deserve to be given the respect I am due.”

“I agree.”

I blinked at the General. “You do?”

“But you still have to work with Adan.” The General pulled me in for a big hug. “Welcome to the family and call me Uncle Saul.”

“Uh, sure.” What just happened?

Uncle Saul stepped back and assumed a stern expression. “And as long as you’re on duty, you do as you’re told.”

“Wait a minute! Weren’t you listening? I’m not one of your soldiers.”

“You are now.” Slipping an anti-gravity sled under the safe, Uncle Saul wheeled it out. Quinn saluted me and followed him.

“How can I be a soldier? I never enlisted.”

Ethan grinned. “You’re a Jones now. We all serve the Overlord.”

“That’s so wrong,” I exclaimed.

Xenia nodded. “Tell me about it.”

“Xenia and I are going to need chocolate. Lots of chocolate.”

Ethan tossed me a small backpack. “There you go.”

“It better be the good stuff.”

“Only the best for our girls. Now on to the important stuff. Our assignments are as follows: Quinn, Xenia and I are the team’s archeologists and will deal with the artifacts. Granny and you will handle the ghosts. Adan and Raj are the muscle.”

“Yippee. I can’t wait to go into the bowels of Hell with two aliens who consider me a tasty snack.”

“They won’t eat you.” Ethan wrapped a big hand around my neck. “You’ll like Raj.”

I gave Ethan a thumbs up. “I’ve always wanted to meet a talking worm.”

“The Gorum are powerful telepaths. Don’t call them worms.”

“Yes, sir. You’re sure Adan and Raj are on our side?”

“I’m positive.”

“What’s in the safe Uncle Saul carted out of here?”

“Theblessedsafe contains an ancient map of the caverns, a vial of Lucifer’s blood and a copy of the original papyrus with the step-by-step instructions on how to close a gateway to the underworld. Luckily for you, it’s in Latin,” Ethan answered.

My jaw dropped. “The Apaches do call the Superstition Mountains the Devil’s playground. But, damn, an entrance to hell?”

“In exchange for giving us access to the holy weapons, Zarek had to promise the Pope we would close the portal, “Ethan advised.

“We live to serve the Vatican,” I grumbled. “What I want to know is how in the hell did they get a vial of Lucifer’s blood?”

“Zarek didn’t say. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow and you two need to get some sleep.”

I gave Ethan a seductive smile. “Sleep?”

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