Leona’s gaze flicked between the man and the amulet, her thoughts spinning. His words lingered. The past may not be as silent as we thought. Who was this man, and how had he come to possess something plucked straight from her lecture?
“Dr. Cavendish,” he said, his voice smooth, tinged with an accent that hinted at Eastern Europe. He snapped the case shut and extended his hand. “Ivan Sabitov.”
She hesitated, then shook his hand. His grip was firm and deliberate, not the kind of man who did anything halfway.
“I assume you’re not just a collector with impeccable timing, Mr. Sabitov,” she said, tilting her head.
Ivan’s lips curved into a faint smile. “No. I represent an organization interested in understanding objects like this.” He tapped the closed case lightly with his fingers.
Leona crossed her arms, curiosity sharpening. “And you thought my lecture was the perfect moment to make your debut?”
“Your work,” Ivan said, his tone calculated, “is well-regarded, Dr. Cavendish. If anyone can help us unravel the meaning behind this artifact, it’s you.”
Leona studied him for a moment, weighing his words, his manner. He wasn’t giving much away, but he didn’t seem like a fool. And that amulet, she couldn’t ignore the pull it had on her.
“Fine,” she said at last, stepping back. “Let’s discuss this further in my office. It’s quieter there.”
Ivan inclined his head, his composure unshaken. “Lead the way.”
***
The walk to her office was quiet at first, their footsteps echoing softly in the museum’s hushed corridors. The artifacts in the Egyptian wing loomed in the dim light, their ancient forms casting long shadows.
“Your organization,” Leona said finally, breaking the silence. “What exactly does it do?”
Ivan glanced at her. “We investigate anomalies, scientific, historical, and otherwise. Think of us as a bridge between the past and the present.”
“That’s vague,” she replied, her tone laced with skepticism.
He smiled faintly. “Deliberately so.”
***
Leona unlocked the heavy wooden door to her office and pushed it open, revealing a space that seemed part workspace, part sanctum. Ivan paused in the doorway, his sharp gaze sweeping the room.
Books were stacked in precarious towers on every available surface, their spines cracked and weathered. A massive oak desk sat in the center, its surface a controlled chaos of notebooks, relics, and tools. Maps and sketches were pinned to the walls, interspersed with framed photographs of excavation sites.
The lighting was warm and soft, spilling from an antique lamp with a stained-glass shade. The air smelled faintly of old paper and something earthy, like an ancient tomb.
“You keep a busy workspace,” Ivan remarked, stepping inside.
“I prefer to call it organized chaos,” Leona replied, motioning for him to sit in one of the leather armchairs near the desk.
He set the case on the table between them, but didn’t open it immediately. Instead, he studied her. “You must have a theory already,” he said, his tone probing but not unkind.
“About you or the artifact?” she asked, raising an eyebrow as she took the seat opposite him.
“Both.”
Leona leaned back, her green eyes sharp. “Let’s start with the artifact.”
***
Ivan opened the case again, revealing the amulet. The green stone seemed to shimmer faintly in the warm light.
“Two months ago,” Ivan began, his tone quiet, “our military detected an anomaly in the Caucasus Mountains. Seismic activity, energy signatures, something that defied explanation. An operative was sent to investigate.”
Leona leaned forward slightly; her gaze fixed on the amulet.
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“What they found,” Ivan continued, “was a ruin. Ancient. Impossible to date. It doesn’t match any known geological or historical record of the region.”
“And this?” Leona gestured to the amulet.
“It was recovered from the site,” Ivan said. “The only item of significance he was able to bring back. The symbols carved into it match no known language or culture, except for the patterns you’ve dedicated your career to studying.”
Leona’s pulse quickened, but she kept her expression neutral. “And you think I can help you?”
“I know you can,” Ivan said simply. “Your work is unparalleled. If anyone can uncover the truth about this artifact, it’s you.”
Her gaze flicked back to the amulet, her mind racing with possibilities. “The anomaly you mentioned,” she said slowly. “Is it still active?”
Ivan hesitated, then nodded. “Yes. But the situation is complicated. Whatever this artifact is, it’s tied to the ruin. And the ruin is not static.”
Leona’s brows furrowed. “Not static?”
“The ruin wasn’t there before,” Ivan said, his voice dropping. “It appeared. Seemingly out of nowhere. And according to our latest data, it’s still shifting. New chambers. Altered passages. It’s as if the place is alive.”
Leona glanced at him, her hand hovering over the amulet before finally brushing its surface. A faint warmth bloomed against her fingers, unnatural in the cool air of the office. She jerked her hand back, her heart pounding.
“This is impossible,” she whispered.
Ivan leaned back, his gray eyes unblinking. “And yet, here it is, Dr. Cavendish. The question is, are you ready to find out why?”
Leona leaned back in her chair, her hand hovering near the amulet, the weight of Ivan’s words pressing down on her. “And you’re suggesting,” she said slowly, “that I what? Pack up and come with you to see this anomaly for myself?”
Ivan’s faint smile returned, sharp and deliberate. “That’s exactly what I’m suggesting.”
Her brows rose. “And what, you’re just extending an open invitation to a ruin that defies the laws of time and space? Isn’t that above my pay grade?”
“I’m not asking as a favor,” Ivan said, his tone calm but insistent. “I’m asking because you’re the only person who might be able to understand what’s happening there.”
Leona tilted her head, studying him. “Why me?”
He gestured toward the amulet. “Because you’ve spent your life unraveling the meaning behind patterns most people dismiss. And because this artifact ties directly to your research. Whatever this ruin is, whatever it holds, it’s bigger than any one organization.”
Leona’s gaze flicked to the amulet, “I don’t make a habit of running off with mysterious men who show up unannounced at my lectures.”
Ivan chuckled lightly. “Understandable. That’s why I’m leaving you time to consider.”
She frowned. “Time?”
Ivan reached for the case, carefully closing it but not locking it. Then, instead of taking it, he pushed it toward her. “I’m leaving the amulet with you for the next two days while I remain in New York. Study it. Analyze it. Let it tell you what it is, if it can.”
Leona’s fingers rested on the edge of the case, her mind racing. “And you trust me not to run off with it?”
“Dr. Cavendish,” Ivan said, leaning forward slightly, his voice low, “I’ve done my homework. I know you’re a professional, not a thief. And I trust your curiosity will keep you close. After all,” he added, his eyes narrowing slightly, “don’t you want to know what it’s tied to?”
Leona bit the inside of her cheek, her thoughts spiraling. He wasn’t wrong. Every instinct screamed for her to dive deeper, to unravel this mystery.
“I’ll be staying at the Plaza Hotel,” Ivan said, standing and adjusting the lapel of his dark suit. “If you decide to join me, I’ll make the necessary arrangements. But whether you come or not, I’ll expect the amulet returned in two days.”
Leona rose as well, crossing her arms. “And if I decline?”
Ivan’s gray eyes didn’t waver. “Then we proceed without you. But I have a feeling,” he said, his words carrying an understated certainty, “you won’t.”
She remained silent as Ivan gave a polite nod, placed his card on her desk, and disappeared into the dim hallway, leaving Leona alone with the amulet.
***
Leona waited until Ivan’s footsteps faded down the hallway before she allowed herself to truly look at the amulet. Finally, she opened the case again. The emerald stone gleamed with an otherworldly brilliance, the intricate carvings seeming to ripple in response to her presence. She leaned closer, drawn in despite herself, her reflection bending and fracturing in the jewel’s crystalline depths.
And then it wasn’t her reflection anymore.
Eyes like smoldering embers flared in the green, blazing with ancient fury so profound it tightened her chest. A skeletal visage emerged, bare skull-like cheekbones, hollow eyes burning with crimson light, and a crown of jagged iron that seemed forged from shadow and fire. His image radiated power.
Leona froze, her breath caught in her throat, unable to look away.
And then, the image shifted.
The green stone rippled like disturbed water, the skeletal face dissolving into something human. The hollow eyes softened, the fiery glow extinguished, leaving warm brown irises that glimmered with life. His features transformed into those of a man, regal yet heartbreakingly beautiful—his sharp jawline softened by a faint smile, his skin smooth and unmarred, his hair dark and curling at the edges. The jagged crown became a band of gold, simple yet elegant, and the warmth in his expression spoke of joy, of love.
The contrast was startling, and for a fleeting moment, Leona saw not a monster but a man.
The illusion didn’t last.
The human visage began to fracture, cracks spidering across the image. The king’s gaze turned mournful, his outstretched hand fading back into the skeletal, clawed grasp of the lich. His human form dissolved into the shadows, leaving only the fiery red eyes, now locked on hers with unrelenting intensity.
"You…"
The whisper curled through her thoughts, low and resonant, filled with longing, recognition, and something darker, something possessive.
“I have devoured the power of countless realms, building a kingdom eternal and yet your face threatens to undo it all.”
Leona slammed the box shut and stumbled to the nearest chair, her fingers gripping the edge of her desk as if to steady herself. The amulet sat in its closed case, silent but oppressive, its presence heavy in the air. A cold shiver coursed through her, but her decision was already made. Tomorrow, she would call Ivan and tell him she’d go with him.