“I’ll call Erik and tell him to head back home,” Cassie offered. Transferring her attention to the trove keeper, she asked, “So, Grace. Ever been to Spain? I have a hunch there’s somebody there who’d really like to meet you.”
Chapter 40 – Double Vision
Cassie sighed as she heaved her suitcase off of the baggage carousel in the Bilbao airport. “I don’t care how many trans-Atlantic miles I’ve logged by now. I still can’t sleep on airplanes.”
The trio had spent the previous week waiting anxiously for a copy of the relic to be fabricated at the vault. In the meantime, Maddie had kept close tabs on the whereabouts of the Nephilim operatives. No one was pleased to hear that they were preparing to travel to Spain. As soon as the artifact was ready, the Arkana team caught the first flight to Bilbao hoping to keep a few steps ahead of their adversaries.
Erik checked his watch. “It’s way too late to drive to the mountain today. The sun will be setting in about an hour.”
Griffin slung his overnight bag across his shoulder and followed his team
mates out of the terminal. “According to Maddie’s last information, Daniel and Hunt aren’t even in the country yet. It’s highly unlikely that once they arrive, they’ll go straight to Anboto. We still have a few days’ grace.”
“Since we can’t do anything useful right now except wait for the sun to come up, I vote for not thinking about the relic quest at all tonight,” Cassie said. “Let’s pick up our rental car and go find some ‘pinks toes’ before we head to the hotel in Durango.”
Griffin stopped dead in his tracks and stared at her disapprovingly. “After all the time we’ve spent in Basque country, you should know how to pronounce that word by now.”
The pythia laughed—a mischievous gleam in her eye. “I do know how to pronounce it. I just enjoy seeing your face get all pinched-looking when you correct me.” She eyed him closely. “I actually think your nose gets longer when you start lecturing.”
The scrivener covered his nose in alarm. “It does?”
She laughed again. “No, I’m just messing with you. Besides, that ratty beard of yours totally draws attention away from your nose. C’mon. Let’s go find some world class pintxos.” This time she pronounced it correctly.
“I’ve heard the area around the Plaza Nuevo has the best selection,” Griffin murmured, self-consciously touching the tip of his nose.
***
“Like I told you a dozen times before, boy, I ain’t gonna bunk at no freaky compound!”
“Nobody is asking you to, Mr. Hunt!” The man is insufferable, Daniel thought to himself. After his idyllic solitude on Malta, he found that renewed contact with his erstwhile bodyguard was even less tolerable than before. They had met in the Bilbao airport after coordinating the arrival of their flights, and Hunt had taken it into his head to argue about accommodations.
“As it happens, I won’t be staying at a Nephilim compound either,” Daniel retorted.
Hunt paused to gape at him. “The dickens you say.”
Daniel inferred that the expression implied disbelief. “The nearest compound is an inconvenient distance from here. I’ve made arrangements for one of the brothers to meet us in Bilbao. We will be staying at a hotel.”
If Daniel’s earlier announcement had intrigued Hunt, this last statement left him dumbfounded. When he could finally speak again, all he said was, “Well, I’ll be...”
The scion decided to let him be whatever it was he was in the process of becoming. He walked out of the terminal and headed directly for a cab stand. A befuddled Hunt trailed in his wake.
“Will you look at this,” the mercenary said. “I don’t know what’s come over you, boy, but you’re actin’ like you know what you’re doin’ for a change.”
Daniel glanced at him coldly but made no remark before sliding into the cab.
Hunt climbed in beside him. Daniel gave the hotel name to the driver. The mercenary twisted his head and contemplated Daniel’s profile.
“Is something wrong, Mr. Hunt?” the scion finally asked impatiently.
“Naw, I just think I’m seein’ things is all. I swear you’re startin’ to sound like your daddy.”
Daniel faced him and flared, “Don’t ever say such a thing to me! I am nothing like him!”
Instead of recoiling, Hunt found the response amusing. He laughed out loud and slapped his knee. “Hooey, boy, I tell you what! You’re somethin’ else.”
Fortunately, the cab ride was brief. Daniel paid the fare while a doorman removed the luggage from the trunk.
As they entered the hotel, Daniel checked his watch. “We have a few hours before Brother Sergio arrives. He’s to meet us in the lobby.”
“OK, then. Time enough to get a proper drink. I ain’t had nothin’ to wet my whistle all day but them tiny hooch bottles on the plane.”
Since Daniel didn’t want Hunt wandering the streets inebriated, he said, “Fine, I’ll go with you. Right after we check in.”
Hunt gawked at him in a state of wonderment. “You’re goin’ with me for a drink? Now I seen everything!”
***
Half an hour later, the two men sauntered out of the hotel in search of a bar which Daniel hoped would serve food. He hadn’t eaten all day. The concierge recommended the area surrounding the Plaza Nuevo which was walking distance from the hotel.
The scion led the way until they arrived at a large open square lined with bars and cafes.
“Now that’s what I’m talkin’ about,” Hunt said with satisfaction. He made directly for the first brightly-lit establishment.
Daniel was taken aback by the array of food which confronted them. None of it looked familiar. He chose something that appeared to be an egg concoction skewered onto a piece of bread. Hunt immediately ordered a double shot of whiskey. He downed it in a few gulps and then ordered another. Although Daniel urged him to take some food, he opted to drink on an empty stomach. Hunt next decided to try one of the local specialties—a mixture of red
