The Scroll of Knowledge

Chapter 3

"I'm not brave enough to try it yet. My head still hurts," Shay said. Thomas' stomach growled. She looked at the clock. "It's already morning."

"I'm craving pancakes for some reason," Thomas said.

"I would make them for you but I see no future where that goes well. Not after a night of sleeplessness because of headaches."

"I'll make them. Do you want any?"

"Two," she said.

They got up and went to the kitchen. Shay sat on the counter while Thomas made the pancakes. When he leaned forward to get the sugar, she kissed him. He ignored her and continued making the batter. She sighed loudly and jumped down.

"Where are you going?" Thomas asked.

"To make a profile on whichever is the most popular dating website," Shay said. He grabbed her and threw her over his shoulder while still pouring the ingredients into the mixer. She laughed. "You could have just said no. Put me down."

"Stay still. You'll spill everything."

She patted his butt. "Arr. That be me precious booty."

"You're pirate voice is pathetic," Thomas said.

She rested her hand on his bare back. "You're heating up. Is something... bothering you?" she asked. He could feel her grinning.

"Keep moving around like this and I won't have any batter for the pancakes."

"Then put me down."

"I don't want to," Thomas said. Shay stuck her cold finger into his ear. He dropped her and rubbed his ear. "Ugh. You know how much I hate that," he said. He grinned evilly. "There's only one--"

"Why aren't you wearing any clothes?"

Thomas jumped and turned around. Ashia, his twenty-two year old half-sister, was standing in the entrance. She was nine years younger than him and three years younger than Shay and Zahir's third child. Thomas was the first and Luca, who was twenty-four, was the second. He had thirteen other half-siblings.

Thomas pulled Shay in front of him.

"My house. I'm allowed to not wear pants," he said. He and Shay had made a deal when they'd bought the house. The AC stays low so she doesn't freeze if Thomas didn't have to wear clothes so he doesn't overheat. That meant that once he was inside, he only wore his underwear, or shorts if it was cold. "What are you doing here? Why didn't you wait outside?"

"Why would I do that if I can just let myself in?" Ashia said. "Oh, you're making pancakes. I want some."

"Plain or strawberry?" Shay asked.

"Is that really the most appropriate thing to ask?" Thomas asked.

"Plain," Ashia said. She sat at the counter. "Relax, Ju. I've seen you burn off your clothes enough times to not be bothered with seeing you in your underwear."

"That doesn't make it any better and I told you to call me Thomas." Only Luca had agreed to call him Thomas. Everyone else still insisted that he was Junaid. "Why are you even here?"

"Oh. Right. I forgot. Must not have been important," Ashia said. Thomas was ready to kick her out but she shot him a discreet wink. She must be here because of the anniversary plans. She was helping him set it up and get Shay's present. He would have to talk to her later.

Shay stuck her finger into the batter and licked it off. "Needs more milk," she said. She held out the bowl for Ashia to taste.

"Definitely needs more milk," Ashia said.

Thomas rolled his eyes and added in more milk.

"I heard you guys kidnapped someone last night," Ashia said "I thought you didn't do that anymore."

"She has a key like mine," Shay said, her face serious. She forced on a smile. "I have the key to the Book of Time. She has the key to the Scroll of Knowledge."

"Shay, your nose is bleeding," Ashia said.

Thomas spun around. Blood was flowing from her nose. Shay held a napkin to it.

"Mind giving me some help?" she asked.

Ashia held Shay's face in her hands. The bleeding stopped.

"Is this because of her?" Ashia asked.

"Yes," Shay said. "But I think it's getting better. It was worse yesterday."

"Maybe you should go lie down," Thomas said. "I'll bring the pancakes when they're done."

Shay sat down next to Ashia. "I'm fine but there's something bothering me."

"What?" he asked.

"I think Derek is a part of a larger group. I keep seeing people with a strange tattoo that I can't make out, but I'm seeing them in many different locations, not just where we got Amber."

"A large group just to get one key?" Ashia asked.

Thomas put down the bowl and leaned against the counter. "No. What she's saying is that there are more artifacts and they know more about them than we do."