It took me a tad longer because I reeled from the discovery.If only I had my phone to document this treasure trove.However, my satchel with it had been left behind on the beach during my abduction.
“Move!”yelled Malone.“Or do you want to die down here?”
Not really.I pivoted and bent over to start grabbing and stuffing the jewelry just casually dumped.Intricately designed necklaces.Rings inset with fat gems.
A wooden box atop a pile caught my eye, and I found myself reaching for it, only for it to tumble, and as it did, the lid popped open, spilling its contents at my feet.
Shiny coins, to be exact, with distinctive imagery that I, of all people, should recognize since I’d studied before going on the hunt for it.
The Jacobite Gold.
I’d actually found the missing treasure, not that anyone would ever believe me.Unless… I crouched and began tossing them into the satchel and, seeing Malone busy with his own scavenging, slipped a piece into my bra.Risky?At this point, did it really matter?
The water in the lake began to churn, and Malone noticed.“Time for us to go.”
He grabbed for the chain still dangling from my collar, and I had no choice but to follow, stumbling behind Malone, who almost ran through the halls.The heavy satchel of goods kept bumping my legs.
A distant roar of a jungle cat had Malone glancing fearfully over his shoulder.He should be afraid.
“Alistair’s going to eat you,” I stated, feeding on his fear.
“Shut up.”
“Did you really think you were a match for two ancient dragons?”I further taunted, wondering if my voice carried far enough for Alistair to hear.
“Ancient,” he snorted.“Turns out they’re not the oldest or most powerful.”
“What do you mean?”He couldn’t be talking about the hatchlings.“Did another dragon survive the purge?”
“In a sense.He’s been sleeping for a long time.So long he was forgotten.”
“Obviously not, since you know about him.”
“Because of Nessie.”
“Don’t you mean Tiamat?”
“Tiamat would have never revealed this secret.But Nessie did.”
“What did she tell you?”
He never replied, likely because the next feline roar sounded much louder—and closer.
“Move.”The hard yank on my leash just about put me face-first into the floor.I barely managed to keep my feet from slipping as I raced with Malone.
We entered the loading dock room with the barrier holding back water, currently empty of kelpies and other monsters.The previously empty hitching dock now had a bright yellow sub tethered and bobbing.Malone must have arrived just after us.
Given he headed for the submersible, I didn’t argue or stall.After all, it remained my best chance of getting out alive.Although, what I’d do once we reached the surface, I didn’t know.Would Malone keep me hostage?Kill me?Did I dare hope he’d simply abandon me on the beach?
The inside of the sub felt cramped, and I began taking deep breaths in and out to try to control the panic that threatened to rise.Probably not the best time to be thinking of that submersible that went looking for theTitanicand ended up collapsing like a tin can, killing all aboard.
“Sit,” Malone ordered.“And touch nothing.”
I didn’t plan to.I dropped the satchel of treasure and plopped my butt as Malone closed the hatch and spun a wheel to seal it.He then threw himself into the seat beside mine and began fiddling with the dials and buttons on the dash.
The hum of the engines didn’t entirely mask the sudden thumping on the hull.
“What is that?”I exclaimed.
