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  He handed Demarcus another leather portfolio, this, too stamped with the torch logo of the Alturas Collective. Demarcus crossed his leg onto his opposite knee to give him a base to write.

  His mom shook her head and came back to reality, wrinkling her nose. “Do you smell burnt rubber?”

  Chapter Six

  Lily stared at her reflection in the mirror. What kind of cheap product had she bought? The black in her hair had faded to the last inch or so of her hair. Her light blonde hair had resurfaced, if anything lighter than before. The dye must really be bad if it couldn’t even stay in a day.

  Except she hadn’t bought the generic Walmart brand. It was the most expensive box she could find.

  No wonder everyone was laughing at her. She really did look like a freak today.

  The last strains of sunlight filtered through the window. Lily jerked the curtains closed and kicked off her skirt, switching to some baggy sweats and a black goth band t-shirt. She tossed her brush onto her nightstand. Instead of landing by her alarm clock, it knocked over her white picture frames.

  The frames’ dust footprints showed how long it had been since she’d deep-cleaned her room. She picked up the white-framed mementos and wiped her finger over the top. Four smiling people beamed through the glass. Two would never be in her life again.

  Luke had a gap in his front teeth and big eyes that shined. Their mom snuggled him close, his floppy brown hair a contrast to his mom’s platinum mane. The love was evident in her eyes.

  Lily carefully replaced the picture. She could remember the camera settings she’d used to get that picture, and exactly how many times she ran back by her dad when she set the timer.

  One year ago. Seemed like an eternity. The raw ache in her gut ate away at her remaining will.

  As her eyes started to mist, she turned away. Her homework sat unopened on her desk. One thing she’d held onto was keeping up in class. She wasn’t stupid, and her pride kept her from looking that way with bad grades. However, today teetered as a tipping point. Could she keep holding on?

  Lily punched her password into her laptop and reached for her wireless headphones to shut out the world, when she heard a soft rap on her door. Kelly must’ve made an after-school snack to try and break through. It was a common tactic to get Lily out of her room, and it was a nice thought. Not today, though.

  Another knock. Okay, what’s going on? She yanked the door open, ready to shut down the charity act.

  “Hey, Kitten.”

  Jack Beausoliel, her father, stood at the threshold. What was he doing here? Wasn’t he supposed to be on another business trip somewhere? She couldn’t keep track anymore.

  “Hey.” She leaned against the doorframe, her features frozen. If she betrayed her emotions, how would she ever rein them in again?

  He scratched the back of his neck, his nervous tic when he didn’t know what to say. Lily had seen it a lot lately. “Um, I’m glad to see you. Sounds like you had a rough day?”

  She fingered her hair with the receding black tips. “Nothing out of the ordinary.” Unless you consider an exploding stage light ordinary. “Didn’t know you were going to be home tonight.”

  “I got a special call. There’s someone downstairs who wants to meet you. Are you … presentable?” He looked at her casual outfit with a raised eyebrow.

  No sense getting changed. “Yeah, I’m good. Who is it?”

  “You’ll see.”

  He turned down the hall and disappeared down the stairway.

  Why a surprise tonight?

  Lily shuffled downstairs. Her stocking feet slipped out from under her toward the bottom. She landed hard on her rear and bounced down to the wood landing. The ridiculous situation set her off in a hysterical bout of giggles. And she’d thought the day couldn’t get any worse.

  Jack picked her up with Kelly looking on. “Are you all right, Lily?”

  Lily almost snorted. “I’m fine. Sorry for the entrance.”

  A young, raven-haired beauty in a stylish red pencil skirt stepped forward. Her brown eyes skimmed over Lily. She offered a dainty hand forward. “Miss Lily, are you okay? I’m Jennie Lin. I hope this isn’t a bad time.”

  Jennie cupped Lily’s hand and gave it a reassuring pat. At least she knew how to put a clumsy teenager at ease.

  “No, I’m good. Err—thanks though.”

  “Would you mind joining us so we can talk?” Jennie motioned to the couches as if she were the hostess.

  “Sure.” Jack and Kelly sat on the long couch and Jennie took the plush lounger. Lily plopped onto the love seat and hugged a pillow to her body. “Shoot.”

  Jennie held her hands prim and proper in her lap. “I’m here on behalf of Alturas Collective. Do you know about us?”

  Was this girl serious?

  “Uh, yeah? Just the company that launched the social network that has Facebook running scared, Twitter quaking in their boots, and Google smacking themselves in their foreheads. Who hasn’t heard of Alturas and Flare?”

  A little cough escaped Kelly’s lips.

  Lily noticed the shiny piece of tech on Jennie’s wrist. “Ooh, is that the new Flare watch? Everyone at school is talking about it.”

  Jennie beamed and lifted her wrist to show off the shiny red device. “You’re well-versed in your social media and technology. This is a prototype of a new model we hope to release later this year.”

  “Sweet. We lived near Seattle until last year, in the shadow of Microsoft. We just moved to Silicon Valley.” She looked at her father with an apologetic shrug. “Sorry, Dad.”

  He cracked a rare smile. “Don’t be.”

  Jennie tipped her head to the side, her brows furrowed.

  “My dad works for a start-up tech company now. Microsoft is still a sore subject around here. Anyway, you’re here with Alturas?”

  The woman regained her composure, adjusting her band after tapping it a couple of times, her posture straight and true. “Yes. Alturas has made great strides in the social media market. And we believe we have the answer for breaking through in a big way to make a huge difference in the world.”

  “Cool.” Lily fingered the fringe on the pillow. Waited for more.

  Jennie cleared her throat.

  “Oh, sorry. I thought you were going to continue. So, what does that have to do with me?”

  Jennie chuckled, the sound like a tinkling bell. “We’ve been looking for kids with great potential. Teens who can be examples to their peers.”

  Awareness dawned on Lily slowly. “And you think I’m one of those?”

  Kelly raised an eyebrow as she glanced between Jennie and Lily. Dad’s look was different, though. Pride. Delight. Something she hadn’t seen in quite a while.

  He leaned in. “What does this entail?”

  Jennie cleared her throat. “In early June, we’re having a special conference in Santa Clara at our campus. We’re hosting the best and brightest from the West to bring them together and see what happens with their synergy and ambition. It’ll be four days of intense interaction and collaboration. We want to see the strength of youth beamed out to every corner of the world.”

  Lily watched in amazement as her Dad’s face transformed. He looked off into the distance, transfixed, and his wide smile grew. She’d overheard him discuss concerns about her with Kelly—though he’d never managed to ask Lily herself. Apparently, he was worried that Lily’s potential was spiraling down. Did the idea of the conference resurrect old dreams he had for her?

  Kelly brought the conversation back to reality. “You know, I’m Lily’s stepmother, and I haven’t been married to Jack for terribly long. Lily’s a wonderful girl, but the recent years have been hard on her. Why was she chosen?” She looked at Lily with a soft grace in her brown eyes. “I think she’s an incredible girl. I wonder, is this the best time for her?”

  Jennie flashed her brightest smile. “We’ve been investigating potential youth for candidates throughout a wide region. Grades or concrete measureme
nts aren’t our main metric. We want potential to influence a generation. We’ve done a thorough investigation at her school, and despite her recent loss, we think Lily has something special to offer.”

  Lily raised her hand awkwardly. “That sounds pretty cool. I guess. But how are we going to pay for this? Dad, you’re traveling all the time to make up the difference from the last year. My school is way expensive.” Everett was something Lily could live without. Unfortunately, her leaving would break his heart. “And it’s only three weeks away.”

  Another charming laugh from Jennie. “We know it’s short notice, and we don’t make this invitation lightly. It will all be covered. Simon is inviting you as a special guest, and he feels he would be a poor host if he didn’t cover all your expenses.”

  A gulp caught in her throat and she almost choked. “I’m the guest of … Simon Mazor?”

  Kelly raised her hand. “Sorry, I’m the non-techie here, I guess. Who is Simon?”

  Lily couldn’t believe her stepmother. “Simon Mazor is the brains behind the Alturas Collective and the creator of Flare. He’s brilliant and a total hottie. He’s like a combination of Mark Zuckerberg and Ryan Gosling.”

  “Ah. The Ryan Gosling part I get.” Kelly blushed after her comment. Lily would normally tease her about that, but her mind stayed focused on a singular detail.

  “So would I get to meet Simon?”

  Jennie stretched her arms out wide. “You will, my dear. He’s personally conducting the whole conference.”

  Dad still looked like he’d been hit with happy gas. Kelly must still be thinking about her Hollywood hunk. Lily rubbed her eyes. They must be tired or fried from that exploding stage light. Jennie had a weird dark sheen around her head, shimmering against her long, luxurious hair.

  But never mind that. For once in too long, Lily recognized a sliver of hope, a spark that spread a small beam of light in her heart. Maybe life wasn’t out to get her after all. Not if she could go meet Simon Mazor. She twirled her hair nervously. Glancing down, she saw no trace of black anymore.

  Lily wondered if Simon liked blondes.

  Chapter Seven

  Somewhere in southeastern Europe

  Shouts echoed through the dark, bouncing off the dank walls of the tunnel. Iaonnes didn’t have much time.

  Pale light from his phone screen illuminated the cobblestone path, but it didn’t prevent Iaonnes from tripping. His weary knees crashed onto the damp stones, and a loud clank echoed from the object that caused his fall.

  Did his pursuers hear that? Iaonnes had to keep moving. His curiosity held him back. He couldn’t resist feeling for what tripped him. His hand brushed a piece of curved clay with winding cracks, probably from an ancient urn. How old was the treasure he just destroyed?

  Probably not as old as he was.

  His joints complained as he straightened up as best he could. The tight space of the underground tunnel slowed his progress. The Antiquities Ministry recently discovered these passages, hidden for millennia, and the opportunity to plumb a new archeological treasure from their rich soil excited the Greek officials, who had moved quickly to explore the ruins.

  And by the commotion following him, they weren’t pleased that he had snuck in. Iaonnes was happy to let them have it all once he obtained the information he needed.

  Words he memorized long ago floated in his mind: When these sacred paths are revealed, the time of worldwide darkness approaches. The gifts of heaven will be restored, and those anointed for such a time as this will find their call.

  Having fallen once already, Iaonnes took the descending stairs carefully. The discovery of the ruins signaled that the Archai had risen once more. After living in anonymity in the region for so long, quietly watching and waiting, it was finally time to fulfill his task of gathering and guiding those with talents needed for this situation.

  He just needed to make it to the chamber before the authorities caught him. Then he would have his instructions for the next steps.

  He’d lost many companions along the way, and now he journeyed alone. Iaonnes stayed content that the plan prepared for him adhered to the Father’s will. His ways were not man’s ways. He knew as an elder of God that those called would find the Enemy ready to oppose them. And the Enemy would tear the skies and the earth to corrupt and destroy the children of Light. His lips tightened at the thought of the Archai spreading their darkness again.

  He pushed through a thick strand of silky webbing. These spiders’ homes hadn’t been disturbed in a long time. Soon archeologists would pore over every inch of this new discovery, teasing out faint secrets from the carvings and relics found here.

  A wry smile spread across his face. If they knew what he could tell them, he’d be the relic they most desired.

  Commotion carried through the serpentine tunnel. The men following him were getting closer. How much farther was it to the wall? He couldn’t remember. Time jumbled together anymore. Iaonnes had kept many secrets and concealed many hiding places through the years.

  The tunnel veered to the left, then straightened again. Iaonnes wanted to go faster, but the uneven ground forced him to keep one hand in front of him while the other held the phone toward the ground to guide his footing. His outstretched hand contacted a hard stone surface.

  The tunnel ended with piles of thin stones stacked to the ceiling, blocking the passage. Slight gaps gave a tantalizing view beyond without yielding access.

  Unless one was humble.

  Iaonnes lay flat on his abdomen, his face against the stone floor. Dank odors overwhelmed his nose. He extended his arms above his head and made as much contact as he could with the cold surface. His fingers searched for the holes prepared long ago.

  Angry voices bounced down the pathway. He’d soon have company, and they wouldn’t be sympathetic to a trespasser. “I’m sorry, but I had a divine mission to carry out. I’ll be out shortly,” probably wouldn’t work.

  He found the two holes and pushed his index fingers in. A thin stone lay within, and he pushed it down. A clink reverberated in the tunnel, and the renewed shouts from behind meant his pursuers had heard it.

  It was time to enter.

  Iaonnes let every muscle relax along his thin frame. He chanted a prayer in an ancient dialect, one of many languages he’d learned through the years. As he released himself to full faith, the slab sank beneath him. He marveled that something built specifically for his size and weight so long ago would work now.

  As his slab lowered, more groaning came from the stones blocking the passage. Dust blew in the air as the stones turned on hidden posts from each side of the tunnel. Each stone turned clockwise, grinding against one another in a dull growl.

  Panicked shouts sounded down the tunnel. Someone yelled in Greek, “Cave-in!”

  The sound of their footsteps stopped. Hopefully worrying about a cave-in would buy the time needed for the aged mechanism to finish.

  As the stones twisted apart and created an opening, Iaonnes’s slab hit a track, and he slid forward through the opening. He held his breath to avoid inhaling the dust. Pebbles trickled over his back.

  The movement stopped. Iaonnes rolled over and spasmed with coughs that spewed the dust away from his face. He stood with numerous pops in his joints, then stepped off the slab. The stones froze.

  Although God gave him grace, he was getting too old for this.

  The puzzle pieces of the barrier began to close again, slowly whirring as the pressure on the slab released. He moved, ready to find the chamber of light when a shout sounded behind him.

  “You! Stop right there, by the authority of the Greek government!”

  “My apologies, dear sir. I must answer to a higher authority.” Iaonnes gave a slow bow as the shocked guard disappeared behind rock. He turned without another word and followed the tunnel, then ducked into a large hollowed-out cavern. He should have enough time with the timeworn mechanism keeping them at bay.

  Etchings in the round cavern stretched from
the entrance to a wood beam in the back and circled around to meet the other side of the door. Characters moved and danced on the walls, telling two stories.

  The story on the right filled Iaonnes with memories of danger and miracles long ago. Fishing nets overflowing. A man walking on water. Soldiers coming for an innocent man. Pictures that spoke of the rise and fall of empires.

  He could almost smell the sea spray and leather.

  The left told of an adventure yet to come. His withered finger traced a figure near the beam. This one was in trouble. Another carving caught his eye. A brave soul would have to sacrifice. But out of the water the figure rose again. Baptism? A metaphor of resurrection, or something more?

  Down toward the floor, one more figure seemed to bounce around the wall in a random pattern, breaking into the story. Could it be? That hadn’t been seen in 2,000 years!

  Yes, the time of gathering drew near. Iaonnes craned his neck to take in every detail. First, an initial coming together. Then trials. Some would stand, and some might fall. He knew God had a plan in store, yet the cost would be great.

  Was this only the beginning?

  He exhaled a long, worn-out sigh. After all this time, to see these marks again. Oh, to stay here and worship his Creator for His great wisdom and patience—but there was an appointed time ahead.

  That, and the pounding of rocks crept into his subconscious. The authorities must be trying to break through.

  Where was it? Iaonnes found a small wrapped package next to the beam. A beam that really wasn’t needed for support. It stood for another purpose.

  He took two stones out of a double-lined parchment wrap and bundled the inner wrap, dry and flaking, next to the base of the beam. It took several attempts of striking the stones until a spark caught in the parchment. A flame licked the beam, and it found a trail of resin that carried up the beam into the ceiling.

  Iaonnes used the outer wrapping to cover his mouth from the acrid smoke filling the room. His faith was strong, even though doubt still flickered in the recesses of his mind. Would the contraption work after so long?