The Scroll of Knowledge

Chapter 3

"Tell me about your boyfriend," the man said.

"Wait. Russia? How did we get here so fast? Did you drug me? Or are you just playing with my head?" I never paid much attention in Geography class but I was pretty certain the Russia was far from Los Angeles. I saw numbers but I pushed them away.

"Your boyfriend, Amber. Tell me about him."

"Who? Derek? What does he have to do with anything? Is he in danger too?" I asked.

"Amber, just answer the question and please do so quickly. I don't have time to waste. If you will not speak willingly, then I will make you speak and that is not something either one of us wants," he said, his eyes hard and cold. I shivered.

"He's doing his internship at a lawyer's office. There isn't much to say about him," I said. I wondered if they planned to kidnap him too.

"Has he shown any interest in your bracelet?"

"Not really. He did spend all day helping me search for it but that isn't strange. He was very happy when I told him I found it. The last time I saw my mother, she told me she wanted me to have it."

He said nothing for a moment. "Your phone." The man held out his hand. I slowly pulled it out of my pocket. I had no signal and couldn't make any calls. He took it in his metal hand. The phone sparked and started smoking. I grabbed it from him.

"What did you do?" I shout. This phone was expensive. I couldn't afford another, not with the funeral costs.

"Keeping you safe."

"Safe from what? What am I in danger from?"

"Not what. Who."

"Then, who am I in danger from?" I asked, getting annoyed.

"Your boyfriend."

*******

When Thomas entered the room, all he saw was a lump underneath the sheets. He smiled and pulled back the covers.

"Cold?" he asked.

Shay looked up at him and rubbed her eyes. She always looked so cute when she was half asleep. "Excellent. My heater has returned."

He laughed and lied down next to her. She pulled the covers over her head again and hugged his waist.

"So warm," she said, rubbing her head against his stomach.

"Hey. Stop that. It tickles," Thomas said, laughing. "How is the headache?" he asked. "Your nose isn't bleeding anymore."

"It's mostly gone," she said, her voice muffled by the sheets. "Did you find out anything?"

Thomas reached underneath the sheets and pulled her up so he could hug her properly. "She's even more clueless than we were three years ago. She said her boyfriend spent all day helping her search for the bracelet. I wouldn't even spend all day helping you search for your wedding ring."

"Your love overwhelms me," Shay said.

He laughed and pulled her closer. "I'm guessing the boyfriend knew about the Scroll of Knowledge and wanted the bracelet." He paused. "I wonder if he's the reason her mother is dead," he said softly. Thomas had been the one who had killed Shay's older sister, the previous keyholder. At the time he hadn't known they were sisters and even though she'd been a terrible person who did many evil things and Shay wasn't still angry with him, he still felt guilty about it.

"No. She was already sick and dying by the time he met Amber. All he had to do was wait," Shay said.

"It would be easier if you talked to her."