Page 2 of Lured By the Dus
Shifting the shovel to my other hand, I grabbed the torch from Carter and stepped further into the open space, my scalp prickling. There had to be another layer to the tomb. But why go through all the trouble of building a large crypt when St. Dowler was the only one buried here?
And then I saw it, a narrow passage leading downhill into darkness. I marched toward it, Carter following somewhat reluctantly behind me. The flickering flame revealed frescos painted on the stone. I longed to stop and decipher their meanings, but time was of the essence.
A slight wind came out of nowhere as I stepped into an open space and held the torch up high. A silver glimmer came from the middle of the room, growing brighter as we approached.
“Oh.” Awe stole my voice as I spun slowly. This was what I had expected.
Stone columns and arches towered above me, and the torch light caught on openings, a labyrinth of passageways that led deeper into the crypt. A coffin sat on a dais, so high that a set of stairs led up to it. Atop the coffin was the glowing, silver prism, but my eyes were drawn to the treasure surrounding it: old books covered in cobwebs, pottery so coated in dust it was hard to tell whether it was worth anything, weapons covered in rust, statues of hideous beasts—jewelry hanging off their necks and arms—and precious stones scattered like pebbles in the road.
Relief made my knees weak. Leaning the shovel against the wall, I put the torch in one of the two holders by the door. It only cast a small pool of light, but it was enough as I opened my satchel and moved to the treasure.
I expected a low whistle of surprise from Carter, but when I glanced over my shoulder, he stood rigid at the entrance to the room. Impatience snapped around me. “Come on, we have little time,” I hissed.
Carter’s face was pale, a sheen of sweat shining on his brow. He licked his lips and shook his head. “Kinder was right, this is wrong.”
“You weren’t afraid when we planned this,” I scoffed. My words sounded brave, but I had to admit, a sacred aura hung in the air. Would I be cursed if I stole from a dead saint?
“I know, but now that we’re here, I see this is wrong. The dead need their gifts for the afterlife and if we steal from them, especially from a saint, there will be consequences.”
I crossed my arms and sighed, wanting to lash out, but knowing it would only drive Carter away. He was a sweet boy, and he’d only gone along with the idea to please me. Putting on my best coaxing tone, I tried to persuade him. “We’re already here. The hard part of sneaking out and not getting caught is over. We just have to grab the treasure and then we’ll leave.”
Shaking his head, Carter stepped back. “This isn’t right. We need to leave. Now.”
I frowned, trying to ignore the ball of anxiety that lay in the pit of my stomach. When I closed my eyes, I recalled the smack of a fist against my flesh, and the pain that rocked through my core. It was all the motivation I needed. With a sigh, I gave in. “Go, stand guard with Kinder. I won’t be long.”
“I’m sorry, Tanith,” Carter apologized.
Spinning on my heel so I wouldn’t see him leave, I marched toward the treasure. I did not want to be alone in the tomb, but if I moved quickly, it should only take a few minutes. I could handle some momentary discomfort to finance my escape. Opening my satchel, I stuffed in jewelry and as many coins as possible. When I reached Solynn, I’d go to a jeweler to determine the true value of these treasures. My fingers danced over the thick books and fat scrolls that lay on the steps. If I had more time, I would have loved to read them. Surely the saint had possessed ancient wisdom and knowledge, although why these books were buried with him I could not fathom.
The flame of the torch flickered, reminding me that time was running out. My gaze moved to the coffin and the silver glow hovering above it. That ball of dread inside tightened and as I reached for more treasure, pain lashed across my skin. Sucking in a deep breath, I jerked my palm to my chest. Looking down, I realized I’d inadvertently picked up a knife. Even though the years should have dulled the blade, a river of blood dripped down my hand and my pulse pounded as I waited for the initial pain to subside.
A far off sound drifted to my ears, a faint call like the hoot of an owl. I froze, whipping my head around to the entrance, where the torch burned even lower. I licked my lips. Someone was coming. Forgetting about my wound, I leaped to my feet, knocking over pottery. It fell with a crash, sending shards of broken clay flying across the floor. A pile of coins came loose and slid down the steps. In the silence, the noise was terrifying, and a whimper came from my lips. I’d stolen enough. Time to go.
But as I moved, the silver prism winked, capturing my vision. Somehow it had fallen off the coffin and was perched on the first stair, merely a foot above me, as though it wanted me to take it. I hesitated. The object was an artifact that belonged in the tomb, but it was a rare find. If I didn’t take it, I’d regret it. Besides, it might be worth enough to give me back the life I’d had before my parents died, before I was forced to come to Dowler.
I made up my mind in a flash and lunged for it. My fingers closed around its cold, hard mass, the blood on my fingers making it slippery. I cupped it in my hands and blew across the surface. Dust danced away like a cloud and the silver glow turned blue. A comfortable warmness flooded through my skin and a sense of peace came over me as I held the prism.
No, it was a pyramid, made of crystal and heavy in my palm. Inside, the glow came from a rock suspended at the top. Below it was a collection of obsidian stones, flakes of gold, and some sort of design. Were those words? I peered closer, brushing my finger over the top. My blood smeared on it, a reminder that I needed to leave and bandage my cut. I could examine the stolen treasures later.
Dropping the pyramid into my satchel, I started toward the exit, but the ground beneath my feet shook. I glanced back at the coffin, now dark without the pyramid’s light. Maybe my movements had disturbed something. Mouth dry, I considered all the passageways, stretching out into who knows where. There were no signs of life aside from myself in the crypt, but something malevolent might dwell here.
Taking a deep breath to calm my rising panic, I broke into a run, but the tremor came again, halting my forward momentum. Holding out my arms to steady myself, I walked, hoping the slower pace would help me keep my balance, but the shaking increased until it felt like the beginning of an earthquake. I lost my balance and landed heavily on my side.
Coins spilled from my satchel. Cursing, I scrambled on all fours to snatch them up. The shaking continued, making my teeth rattle in my skull. I worked quickly, crawling closer to the nearest passageway until the torch lost its perch and fell, plunging me into utter darkness.
I hissed as cool threads of fear gathered around me and the shaking stopped. Shakily, I rose to my feet, hands reaching for the candle and flint that should be in my pocket, when hands locked around my waist and yanked me backward.
2Tanith
“Carter, let go,” I snapped, fear edging my tone.
The arm around me tightened, and a masculine voice vibrated through me. “Who is Carter?”
Bile rose in my throat. I kicked out and waved my arms, desperate to escape as terrible thoughts swam through my mind. I had not heard anyone enter the crypt, but what if the spirits were real? What if they’d come alive? What horrors would they inflict on me?
The man or spirit did not speak again as I fought him. I threw back an elbow, which connected with something solid, and kicked, my heel smacking into a leg. He merely grunted and redoubled his efforts to subdue me, his arm around my waist so tight it was bruising.
I gasped for air, my heart pounding in my ribcage as I scratched the arm holding me, digging in with my short nails as best I could. The man lifted me off my feet and I jerked my head back. Hard. I heard a snap and he finally dropped me. I tumbled to the ground, crying out as I landed on the broken shards of pottery. Ignoring the cuts, I crawled on all fours as fast as I could. This was a nightmare, worse than what I’d feared when I entered the crypt. Someone else was here, someone who might kill me if I didn’t escape.
