Asleep
still she stirred. Things were amiss, the story would soon be
unfolded.
The Spirits were restless. Visions flew past Pandoras
closed eyes,
Men..a Woman? People whom would soon be on the sands
above her
chosen resting place. Who were they? Was she even really
comprehending
them? Subconciously yes. The evil around this place was
busy, coming
to the surface as if it was ready to be awoken. And
Pandora too
would than rise. Her fingers moved lightly against the
slab she was
resting on. But she stayed sleeping, as another vision
came to her
sleeping form, the taller man was talking to a woman.
Looking for
someone. Who?..
*
Evelyn inhaled
and looked the two strangers over, relieved they were
only after
Jonathan. He'd probably offended one of them and would earn
himself a
beating for it, but she wasn't about to help them find her
brother, no
matter how deserving whatever they had in mind might be. "I
don't know
where he is," she replied truthfully. "He could be lying in a
bar for all
I know."
The large dark
one shifted on his feet and eyed her speculatively. "Well,
why don't
we just hang around until he returns," he suggested to the other.
"We've got
some business with your boyfriend and we'd hate to miss him." He
grinned.
Evy ignored
the "boyfriend" bit and looked to the other, hoping he'd decide
against holding
her hostage. *So help me if they so much as break a vase
I'll kick
Jonathan for this!* she thought to her painfully absent brother.
Then her mind
flicked to her sister. She prayed she wouldn't return home
anytime soon.
*
Rick suspected she knew more than
she was prepared to tell, but
his queasy condition left him in
no mood for guessing games. He
grunted and turned away from her
quickly circling the foyer once
again just to double check the house
was empty except for this
mettlesome girl. Satisfied, he marched
back and took her by the arm
forcing her to look straight at
him. In a low, determined voice he
made his point. "Whether he's your
boyfriend or your butler makes no
difference to me, but he stole something
of mine and I'd kinda like
it back."
Her expression changed from one of
stout composure to a frustrated
realization and she groaned ever
so quietly, however she still
refused to speak. His voice took
a childish tone as he continued to
press his point, "Now, I have a
feeling that you know where this guy
is, but if you'd prefer we hang
around here and wait for him, then
that's just fine with us!" Looking
over at Drake and seeing his
approval of the idea, Rick slipped
his arm around her waist and
walked her into the sitting room.
"Now, this does look cosy! Better
than what we've been accustomed
to lately, hey buddy?"
*
Drake grinned at Rick, flopping down
on a pretty white sofa. The
house was clean and nicely dressed.
"Oh, I'd say it's a good lot
better, pal," he agreed. "I wouldn't
mind staying here all night if
we have to. You don't mind, do you
lady?"
Evy sat down, pulling herself from
the man that still held
her. "Look," she said firmly. "My
brother was out drinking last
night. I have no clue where he is
because *I* am not his keeper.
For all I know he could be on his
way to a dig. He's an explorer."
Before she could go on they all paused,
hearing a sound. "Evy?" a
voice called. "You home?"
Evelyn groaned.
*
Evelyn looked as if she was about
to shout a warning to her
wayward brother, but Rick once again
placed a firm grip on her upper
arm and this time it hurt! "Sshhh"
he whispered too closely to her
face and his intimidation worked.
It seemed Jonathan would be left
to walk into the trap.
Rick pulled his gun and motioned
for Drake to stand behind the door.
The handle clicked abruptly, "Evy!
Where the blazes are you?"
*
Jonathan stepped through the door
still calling for his sister,
but when confronted with the awful
sight of Evy being held at gun
point he stopped short, his mouth
still open. Then without warning
he too was grabbed from behind.
A strong, thick arm wrapped itself
tightly around his neck and the
cold steel of a gun barrel was
pressed firmly against his temple.
Jonathan stood stock still and
stared into the glaring eyes of
his sister.
Keeping a firm grip on the woman's
arm, Rick spoke with a sarcastic
pleasantry. "Well, well! It's just
so nice to see you again!"
Jonathan's attempt to answer was
hampered by Drake's strangle hold
and he could only offer a feeble
wave to O'Connell who stood smiling
menacingly at him. "Oh, so you do
remember me!" He looked up at
Drake and mocked, "...and here's
me thinking we wouldn't be welcome."
Redirecting his attention to Carnahan,
O'Connell's voice became deep
and threatening as he spoke to the
overly intimidated
Englishman, "Hand it over right
now and I'll consider leaving here
with you still being able to walk.
I might even let your sister go!"
*
Jonathan swallowed and eased back,
wondering how he was going to get
himself and Evy out of this. Give
back the key? That was a shade
more than he truly wanted to do.
He sighed. "Just let her go and
we'll talk this over. No need to
get angry," Jonathan said, hands
up. His first instinct was to bolt,
but he couldn't leave Evy to
these ruffians. "Let's be civilized,
shall we?"
*
O'Connell almost laughed at the man
cowering before him and
wondered why he had considered it
necessary to hold this woman at
gunpoint, when it was obvious he
had only needed to give Carnahan a
good scare from behind to achive
the same end.
He led the girl towards the sofa
letting go of her arm and pointed
for her to sit down. O'Connell ignored
her infuriated huffing as he
turned and spoke to Carnahan, "What's
there to discuss? You have my
property and I want it back. Very
simple if you ask me." The
American's sarcastic tone was having
the desired effect on Jonathan
who couldn't decifer if this man
was attempting to be friendly or
merely prolonging the agony.
"Well you see, we could cut you in
on a percentage." Jonathan
uttered tentatively, immediately
capturing the interest of both Rick
and Drake.
Rick stepped closer and peered directly
into Jonathan's face. "A
percentage of what? How much do
you know about this box?"
*
Jonathan eyed the dangerous man warily.
Perhaps he could strike up a deal
with this unsavory character with
the American accent. "We knew it can lead
us to a place filled with pretty
things," he hinted.
Evy took that opportunity to voice
herself. "And we know we aren't going to
tell a thing unless you put your
toys away and act civilized!"
Carnahan winced at his sister's bravery.
*
Hey, Angelic Vixen! So glad you're
still around. My best
wishes for a speedy recovery for
your father.
IC: Rick loosened his grip on the
pistol and clicked the hammer back
onto it's cradle. Drake was somewhat
hesitant to follow his lead and
it occured to Rick, at this point
at least, Drake's wariness might
not be such a bad thing.
The American gave the petite English
woman a wry smile as he seated
himself next to her on the sofa,
wriggling about to make himself
comfortable. "So let me guess, you
and your brother here were just
going to ride out into the desert
and hope for the best, hmmm? Am I
right?"
*
Evy looked at her brother, wondering
exactly they were going to do to get
rid of these ruffians. She swallowed
and looked at the man beside her.
"Approximately," was all she offered
in reply. She crossed her arms and
looked at Jonathan for guidance.
She wished he would stop bringing her into
his bad business deals.
*
Drake gave Carnahan a nudge into
the armchair. Jonathan tried
as best he could to make this sudden
change of position as nonchalant
as possible. O'Connell leaned forward,
resting his elbows against
his knees and eyed the Englishman.
"Give me the box!"
Jonathan laughed nervously and checked
his jacket for the troublesome
item. He discovered it in the last
pocket and raised it with
relief. Before he had a chance to
speak, Drake plucked the box from
his fingers and studied it incredulously.
*
"What the hell is this?" Drake asked,
furrowing his brow and studying the trinket that O'Connell had been quite
interested in attaining. He looked to his new friend in puzzlement.
Evy was also very curious to know
what this little item was. She leaned forward, waiting for the intruder
to explain.
