The scion opened the Gladstone bag. “The Sage Stone is concealed in a secret compartment at the base of this wall, Father. In order to release it, these artifacts must be placed on the scales.”
“I will be the one to do that!” Abraham shoved his son aside. “Hand me the relics.”
The diviner dragged himself to the scale on the far left. Daniel offered him the lapis dove. The old man promptly placed it on the scale. He then shuffled a few feet to the right. On the second scale, he placed the golden bee.
As he moved toward the middle scale, Daniel forestalled him. “Not that one, Father. It’s for the key.”
“Very well.” Metcalf moved farther to the right and deposited the serpent statue on the next scale. On the final scale, he laid the bull’s head. Then he turned to Daniel. “Now what?”
“Now you need this.” Cassie handed the labrys artifact to the diviner who inspected it closely.
“You place the key into the slot in the middle dish,” the scion prompted.
Abraham retraced his steps to the center of the reliquary. He threaded the base of the statue into the slot and pushed downward.
“Now turn it,” Daniel instructed.
The old man tried, scowling after repeated attempts. “I can’t.”
Daniel stepped forward to help him. They both struggled with the lock for a few seconds to no avail. The scion turned to Cassie in panicky appeal. “It won’t move.”
“Hmmm.” A mysterious smile formed on her lips. “That’s too bad.”
“Gal, what are you playin’ at?” Hunt challenged.
“We weren’t sure your artifacts would work to release the lock.” Cassie eyed the scrivener. “Do you want to do the honors?”
“Gladly.” Griffin knelt on the ground and removed his backpack. Then he withdrew four items which made the Nephilim gasp.
“In all likelihood, your artifacts didn’t release the lock because their weight is off by a fraction,” he explained. “The reason their weight is wrong is because you don’t possess the original Bones of the Mother. We’ve had them all along.”
Several seconds of shocked silence followed this disturbing announcement. The diviner peered at the collection in disbelief.
“But how...” Daniel trailed off.
“We got to all the sites before you did,” Cassie informed him. “We substituted copies so you’d think you had the real ones. It was supposed to keep you off our trail while we searched for the Sage Stone.” She gave a short bark of a laugh. “So much for that plan.”
Hunt appeared just as stupefied as the rest. “Then you’re sayin’ all the preacher’s fancy doodads ain’t worth spit?”
“They’re not worthless,” the pythia corrected. “They’re still real gold and real gems—just not real old.”
A slow grin spread across the cowboy’s face. “Then they gotta fetch as much in cash money as the ones you snagged.”
“Yup,” the pythia agreed. “But only one set is the exact weight to trigger the release of the Sage Stone.”
“You lied to me,” the scion broke in plaintively. “I worked side by side with you, and you lied to me.”
“Daniel, try to understand.” Cassie’s voice was filled with regret. “We couldn’t risk it.”
“Your loyalties always seemed open to question,” Griffin hastened to add.
“His loyalties are right where they belong,” Abraham asserted. “With the father who gave him life and to whom he owes absolute obedience. Me!”
Daniel stared at the pythia with reproach. “You said you were my friend.”
“I am your friend,” Cassie declared fiercely.
The scion shrank back into the shadows, refusing to meet her gaze.
“Get on with it!” the diviner demanded.
“Yes, of course,” Griffin agreed. “If you wouldn’t mind stepping back.”
Abraham grudgingly yielded a few feet.
The scrivener stood up and carried the real artifacts to the reliquary. He removed the forgeries and tucked them back inside the Gladstone bag. Once he’d placed the genuine relics on the scales, he signaled Cassie. “Now, if you please.”
The pythia returned to the middle scale where the labrys key was still embedded in the lock. She struggled to turn it.
“Here, let me help,” Griffin offered.
They both tried, but the key refused to budge.
“That’s not good.” Cassie’s tone was ominous. She stepped back and studied the reliquary. Baffled, she informed the diviner, “That should have done it. I don’t know what’s wrong.”
“I do!” Metcalf roared. “It’s a trap! You’ve tricked us!” He hobbled back to a position of safety between his bodyguards. “Commander Matthew, Mr. Hunt, you both know what to do!”
The Argus agent threw an arm across Erik’s shoulders and pointed the gun at his temple.
Hunt removed his Glock pistol and encircled Hannah’s throat.
Maddie, Zach, and Lars all drew their guns.
“It’s not a trap!” Cassie countered anxiously. “That should have worked!”
“Lay down your weapons, all of you!” the diviner ordered. “If you don’t do as I say, both hostages die this instant.”
“Hannah!” Zach shouted in anguish.
“Father, you wouldn’t!” the scion pleaded. “She’s your wife.”
“Yes, she is my wife, and I love her above all womankind. But I would rather see her dead at my feet than in the clutches of these Fallen devils!”
“Hold on a minute!” Cassie raised her hands in protest. “Everybody just chill! Let me try to read the artifact before you all end up blasting each other to bits!”
“What is she talking about?” the diviner demanded of Daniel.
“Cassie has the ability to read ancient relics, Father. They speak to her.”
“Witchcraft!” the old man hissed. “The work of the devil.”
“No,” the scion countered. “Her power does not come from the dark one, and it is quite real. I’ve seen the results with my own eyes. Father, please let her discern what she can. I know you don’t want Hannah to die.”
“I will let this witch try nothing until her people have surrendered their weapons.”
The five members of the Arkana team traded uncertain glances.
Cassie sighed in resignation. “Better do what he says. It wouldn’t take a pythia to predict that nobody gets out of here alive if
