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"I'm not leaving you alone," Chris insisted on the unthinkable.
"I know." That was all Hecate said, but apparently, she didn't need to because they understood each other without words. They arranged their appointments, compromises, and promises in silence.
"Whatever," Sam left them to sort out this question and looked at this unusual pair, human and goddess, priest and mage, one last time in confusion. "We should split up too," he suggested.
"What did you have in mind, Sam?" I was wondering if that was really such a good idea.
"One-half researches who possessed the Ark of the Covenant after it disappeared from the temple in Jerusalem, and the other half visits the nearest holy site."
"I volunteer for the research," Edward called out immediately, already bobbing up and down impatiently on his chair.
"I suggest that Edward, Aspasia, and Myrina look for answers in the books and documents here while Stephan, Tanael, and I explore the tunnel city in Turkey," Sam said.
"That's out of the question," I shouted indignantly. "I'm not staying here! I'm going to Derinkuyu with you!" I wouldn't let myself be deported just because I was human.
"Myrina, it's much safer for you here," Stephan reassured me. Everyone else had fallen silent. Not even my brothers wanted to get involved in this argument.
"I'm going with you, and that's my last word," I insisted on my place in the group descending into the underground city.
"Tanael, surely you agree with us, don't you? Tell her." Sam now turned to the God of the First Light.
"Don't say anything wrong now," I hissed at Tanael in my thoughts.
"Myrina has to decide for herself which group she wants to join. Of course, it's safer for her here ..." he looked at me penetratingly. "... but the decision is up to her."
"Thank you, Tanael. I hereby decide to go with you to Derinkuyu," I announced almost solemnly. Sam groaned, and Stephan gave his Dumah an unmistakable look.
"I'd better stay here and help you with your research, Edward. That will certainly be helpful, as I have lived through history and can perhaps recognize some connections more quickly," Aspasia offered, looking at me a little wistfully. "Although I hate to miss out on the adventure of the tunnel city. I understand why Myrina wouldn't say no."
"And it seems to run in the family to love getting into danger," Hecate murmured, glancing at Chris. She clearly disagreed even if she let him have his way when searching the underworld.
"I know how Hecate feels," Tanael whispered in my head. "I don't feel any differently. But I know I can't talk you out of it. Please be careful, do you hear me?"
"I am," I promised and smiled at him.
In the meantime, the second group had also split up. Hecate, Chris, Jordy and Emma would continue their search for the women in Russia. Lariel, Maggy, Aza and Rick in Brysalia. Rick was sitting in his chair, grinning like a honey cake horse. Almost like a child who had been told he was going to visit Santa's factory at the North Pole.
"I suggest that each of the four teams retire to plan the next mission. Let's get started tonight," announced Tanael. "Let's finally bring down the Knights of John!"
CHAPTER 37
We had spent the whole day working with site plans, history books, and various tools and weapons. This time, we had to be better prepared than in Jerusalem. After comparing all the possible entrances to this tunnel system on the various maps and plans, we decided to use one of the closed entrances. At the time when tourists had been allowed into the underground city, only one entrance had been officially opened. We would definitely avoid that one, as it was so spacious that even large crowds of people could enter the tunnels at the same time. We reckoned they were digging in Derinkuyu, as they had in Jerusalem.
There were 600 entrances to the tunnel city, most of which were accessible from private houses. According to ten-year-old researcher records, one of these houses appeared to be uninhabited. We had to try our luck and open the portal there. This entrance would lead to one of the tunnel parts of the city that had not been fully explored. Maybe we could avoid an encounter with the Knights of John.
Stephan packed glow sticks, flashlights, ropes, and other emergency equipment into four small backpacks. Hopefully, we would make it through the tunnels more safely than we had managed on the Temple Mount.
Tired and exhausted, I entered my bedroom in the late afternoon. In passing, the demon had whispered to me that I would find a dress on my bed. I was relieved to see he hadn't promised too much. The light blue tulle dress from the Hamptons was spread out on the bed and looked as beautiful as last time.
I quickly removed my jeans and shirt before filling the tub. Aza's vanilla and lavender bath salts stood on the edge of the tub, and when I added them to the water, they gave off a wonderful, sweet, and flowery scent.
Tonight, after dinner, we wanted to make our way to the underground city. My eyes fell shut only thinking about it. Relaxed, I lay down in the warm bath. I let myself drift on the surface and banished the impending adventure and the accompanying fear from my mind.
"Are you sure you want to go to Derinkuyu?" a dark male voice made me jump.
"Tanael!" I shouted indignantly and tried to cover myself with foam, arms, and hands. "I thought I made it clear last time that you can't show up here when I'm naked!"
"Oh," he said, acting surprised and sitting down on the edge of the bathtub simultaneously. "And I thought we'd worked out that there's nothing for you to be ashamed of since I've seen it all before."
