Chapter 292

“It started when Alex gave me permission to explore the passageways,” Cassidy said. “I’ve dedicated my life to our history. These tunnels beneath the oldest building in our world were irresistible to me.”

“Alex loves history too,” I reminded her. “I’m surprised he’s not here with you.”

“He has a touch of claustrophobia,” Cassidy explained. “He entered the passageway near the bathroom with me once and had to leave in just a few minutes.”

I didn’t know Alex was claustrophobic. But a powerful man like him would hide anything he perceived as a weakness.

“So why are you here in the passages every day?” I asked, eager to hear Cassidy’s secrets.

“Originally, Alex gave me permission to attempt to find the undiscovered seventh set of Ivory Columns,” Cassidy explained.

“The entrance to Lycaon’s Passage,” I said.

Cassidy smiled and nodded. “You always were one of my best students.”

“Thanks,” I said. “Did you find what you were looking for?” I wasn’t ready to admit that I was pretty sure I found the Seventh Passage yesterday.

“No.” She sighed. “But I have found evidence that someone has been in the passages. I believe they are looking for treasure to steal. Finding the Tombs of the Alphas would be a prize for any thief.”

I was growing impatient. “Have you considered that whoever has been using the passages recently are members of the faction trying to oust Victor from the leadership?”

“Yes, and I believe the piece of silver found in the ceremony room during Victor’s ascension ceremony rehearsal was left there by a faction member,” Cassidy revealed. “And I’m sure they used the passages to put it there.”

“Then why didn’t you warn Victor that the faction is using the passages?” My frustration boiled over. “Why won’t you let me warn him now?”

“Because if Victor knew everything Alex and I know, the faction would also know within minutes,” Cassidy replied. “Think about it, Daisy. The spy’s passage can’t be the only way they are watching him.”

“As long as the faction is using the passages, we have a chance to stop them,” Cassidy insisted. “I’m ashamed I didn’t think of using cameras to catch them before you did.”

I still wasn’t convinced of her good intentions.

“We need to know what the faction is doing in the passages,” she added. “I must beat them to Lycaon’s Passage. They can’t be allowed to steal such valuable relics hidden in the ancient tombs.”

“You don’t understand, Cassidy. Protecting Victor’s role as leader of the Association is just as important,” I argued. “If the faction installs their own leader, they will take whatever treasures they want.”

“You’re right,” she admitted. “Alex said something similar. That’s why he insisted we would tell Victor when we return from ….”

I finished her sentence. “Return from Virople?”

Cassidy’s eyes widened, and she put a finger to her lips. “How do you know where we’re going? Did Alex tell you?”

So I was right. Alex and Cassidy are going to the country where the lemons came from.

“No, Alex didn’t tell me, but why are you going there?” I asked.

“Then how do you know?” she demanded.

“Answer my question first,” I insisted.

“I found a passport in one of the passages,” she whispered. “It showed someone is traveling to Virople on a regular basis, but the name in the passport was fake. There is nobody by that name living in this country.”

“You’re going to Virople to investigate, right?”

“Yes. Alex and I are going there to find out who this person is and why they travel to Virople and back every month,” she revealed. “The authorities there are easier to deal with in person.”

I was silent for a moment while I thought about what Cassidy had said. My head spun when I realized how high the corruption in The Association went.

Why hadn’t I thought of it before!

“Whoever is behind the plot to oust Victor must be a member of the council,” I said.

Cassidy nodded. “Exactly. That’s why this must be handled with care. But your camera idea is better than my roaming these passages for hours every day trying to spot the intruders.”

“I wish I brought more than two,” I said. “But can we start by installing them in and near the spy’s hallway?”

“I know where you mean,” Cassidy said. “I like your name for that part of the passage.”

“Spy’s hallway seemed appropriate,” I said.

“Let’s go,” Cassidy said and began to walk down the long passage. “I’ll get more cameras and install them in other places. Our chances of recording faction members’ trespassing will increase if we monitor more locations.”

Her words set off a wave of relief. The faction was going to be caught and stopped. And Victor would be informed as soon as we knew who was part of the group.

Cassidy was right about the faction being alerted if Victor knew before they were caught that they were using the passages.

I walked next to Cassidy as she made her way to the spy’s hallway. “Have you run into anyone besides me in here?”

“No,” she replied. “But I’ve heard voices and found small items that they dropped or left behind. Besides the passport, there was a chewing gum wrapper and a disposable bandage.”

“Do you think they know you are here every day?”

“I don’t think so,” she said. “That’s why we must be sure to hide the cameras well. They must not know we are on to them yet.”

We walked the rest of the way silently while looking around corners for trespassing faction members before crossing the intersecting tunnels.

“This would be a good spot,” Cassidy whispered. “The lightbulb will hide the camera and provide plenty of light.”

“Good. I want to see the coward’s faces,” I murmured.

Together, Cassidy and I installed a camera at a three-way intersection leading to the spy’s hallway and another next to the light fixture nearest to Victor’s office grating.

The identity of who was using the spy’s hallway to eavesdrop on Victor would soon be revealed.

“Where did you get these cameras?” Cassidy asked. I need at least ten more.”

I told her the name of the electronics store. “You are so brave, Cassidy. Aren’t you scared to enter Lycaon’s Passage? Don’t you believe in the whispering beast?”

I wasn’t sure if it was real or not, but no treasure could convince me to go back into that passage ever again.

“Many myths are based on facts,” she replied. “But I believe the story of the beast was circulated to prevent thieves from robbing the tombs.”

“That makes sense,” I said while pulling a water bottle from my backpack. “Still, I never want to go in there again.”

“What do you mean?” Cassidy practically shouted. “Did you find the Seventh Passage?”

I shrugged. “I’m not sure where I was. I was lost, remember?” Me and my big mouth. I knew what was coming out of her mouth next.

She grabbed my arm. “You must show me where you were. It’s vital that we get there before anyone else and protect the tombs. Ancient relics could be stolen and lost forever.”

“I don’t know how I got there,” I insisted. “I was lost and tired. I had hunkered down to rest against a wall. Then I felt a curved rock beside me and was running my hand over it when the wall I was leaning on opened, and I fell onto a ramp.”

“A ramp?” Cassidy repeated.

“It was too dark to see,” I said. “I used my phone’s flashlight feature and followed the ramp downward to a room where there were tombstones embedded in the floor.”

I continued telling my story while Cassidy listened with her eyeballs bugging from her head.

“There were boxes in that room, too,” I continued. “They were heavy cardboard boxes of lemons from Virople.”

“Daisy, you must help me find that passage again,” Cassidy repeated. “They are probably stealing the sacred relics.”

“Unless the beast got the thieves,” I said.

Cassidy looked at me as if I’d lost my mind.

“I heard an eerie whispering sound coming my way,” I told her. “It sounded just like the legends said the beast would sound when it comes for you.”

“Daisy, you’ve got to help me find that passage,” Cassidy insisted. “I’m helping you uncover the faction to save Victor’s job. I thought we were helping each other.”

“Ugh. Fine,” I said. “But I’m not sure I can find it again.”

“Just try. Please,” Cassidy pleaded.

I didn’t want to enter that dark, scary place again. But at least this time, I would know how to get out when the beast came after us.