The young man took the page and puzzled over it for a few moments. “Dimensions, but why—”
Faye cut in. “I think Sybil wanted us to build a replica in case we no longer had the original.”
“But why should we want a replica?” Griffin was mystified.
The old woman picked up one of the photos and contemplated it. “Cassie gave me a hint when she talked about our elusive cowboy. She had a dream in which she saw the encounter in the antique shop. She said he wanted Sybil to tell him where the key was. When he ransacked her apartment, he took only this stone ruler. I would assume it is some kind of key. In order for us to know what it unlocks, we would need an exact copy. Do you think you could make one using the measurements I’ve given you?”
The young man became pensive. “I can’t do it myself, of course, but I think there are a few chaps at the vault who may have the necessary skills. I’ll get in touch with them first thing tomorrow.”
Faye took another sip of coffee. She chose her next words carefully. “I believe building this replica should be your top priority.”
“Well, of course,” Griffin readily agreed. “It’s quite a fascinating puzzle, isn’t it?”
“It’s more than that,” Faye countered in a low voice. “It may have something to do with the Sage Stone.”
“What!” Griffin half rose out of his chair at the mention of those words.
This time a few curious people on the lower level glanced upward toward the loft.
Faye raised her eyebrows but said nothing.
“Very sorry.” Griffin cleared his throat uncomfortably and resettled himself. He leaned in closer across the table. “How can you be sure this object is connected to…” he trailed off as if afraid to utter the words.
“I can’t be sure. Simply an offhanded comment Sybil made several months ago. She said she was on the trail of ‘the find of the century.’ Since I hear that phrase from field operatives almost every week, I didn’t pay much attention. Until now. I believe she may have been right. We need to be certain before I alarm anyone else, so you’ll have to proceed with the utmost secrecy.”
“You haven’t even told Maddie?”
“No, and I won’t until we know what we’re dealing with.” Faye sighed. “For the time being, I want a semblance of normality to prevail. Especially when it comes Cassie. She shouldn’t be pulled into this maelstrom unless it becomes absolutely necessary.”
“But Faye,” the young man protested. “I’m a terrible liar!”
“I’m not asking you to lie, my dear. I’m asking you to avoid the topic with your colleagues and refrain from mentioning it to the girl altogether. As an added precaution, I think it would be wise to accelerate the training of our new pythia if, and when, she agrees to join us. Poor child! She’ll have only weeks to learn what it took Sybil years to master.”
Griffin lowered his head in acquiescence.
Faye glanced down at the photo of the key resting next to her coffee cup. “One person has already died because of this object. If this key can somehow lead the Nephilim to the Sage Stone, then one death will be only the beginning.”
Chapter 15 – Paranormal Antiquity
Two weeks after she fled the place in terror, Cassie found herself standing on Faye’s front porch once again. Somehow, she had talked herself around to this spot despite her misgivings. She knocked on the door.
After a few moments, Faye appeared. She was wearing a kitchen apron. Her cheeks and forearms were streaked with flour. When she saw who her visitor was, a perceptive smile crossed her face. “Come in, my dear, come in. I’ve just popped a few loaves of bread into the oven. They won’t be ready for a while, but I can fix you a sandwich if you’re hungry.”
The girl entered the house hesitantly. “No, thanks. I just want to talk. There’s a lot I need to say.”
“Why don’t we go out into the garden then,” Faye suggested.
Cassie nodded and followed the old woman to the yard. By now, leaves had formed around the wisteria blossoms, and tulips and daffodils were starting to join the ranks of early spring flowers. It was a little cooler and more overcast than their last visit but still warm enough to be pleasant.
The girl hesitated before seating herself. It was the same chair she’d sat in when her brain collapsed into somebody else’s consciousness. It wasn’t a happy association. She braced herself and sat down.
Faye took the opposite chair. She wasn’t hiding any mystic bowls in the shrubs this time, Cassie noted with relief.
“I guess I ought to start,” the girl began abruptly. “I’m sorry about the way I acted last time I was here.”
Faye chuckled. “No harm done, my dear. Now, what is it you’d like to talk about?”
“This pythia business. I need to find out more about it.”
“Then you don’t know what a pythia is?” Faye didn’t sound entirely surprised.
Cassie shook her head.
“Wait here, and I’ll show you a picture.” The old woman shuffled back inside the house. It was several minutes before she emerged with a book. She placed it on the table between them and flipped to a page that had been tabbed. “Look,” she instructed.
Cassie leaned over and gasped. The page contained an illustration showing a cup decorated with two figures dressed in ancient Greek costume. The first was a woman in white seated on a high stool. She held a shallow bowl in one hand and a laurel branch in the other. The second figure was a man in a toga who stood facing her. “That’s…that’s…” Cassie stammered.
“Yes, dear. That’s the woman you saw
