The revolving doors spun slowly as Naomi, Elias, and Ava stepped into the museum. Inside, the hum of life surrounded them. Schoolchildren darted between exhibits, their excitement tempered by teachers murmuring firm reminders to behave. Couples drifted hand-in-hand, sharing whispered marvels over relics that seemed to breathe with age. The air smelled of polished wood, aged parchment, and cool stone—a scent that hinted at secrets just waiting to be unearthed.
Naomi led them with purpose, eyes darting across the hall's edges. "Stay close," she said under her breath. "It's easy to get lost in the crowd here."
Elias adjusted his hood, keeping his gaze low. "This many people... What if Asmodeus is one of them?"
Naomi glanced over her shoulder with a faint smirk. "Relax. If Lucius thought you'd get ambushed, he wouldn't have sent that message. Besides, if Asmodeus wanted you dead, he'd have done it already."
Ava trailed behind, her gaze flickering uneasily over the shadowed displays. "Can we not talk about 'killed' right now?" she muttered. "I half expect a mummy to pop out of one of these cases."
Elias flashed her a grin. "Easy, Ava. No undead here. Just 'dusty old junk.'"
Naomi shot him a warning look but stayed silent, already homing in on a discreet staff door at the far end of the hall. They slipped inside, trading the museum's buzzing ambiance for dim, deserted corridors lined with storage carts and locked cabinets. After weaving through a few winding hallways, they reached a cluttered office tucked in the far corner.
Naomi knocked lightly and entered without waiting for a response. Inside, Dan Stratton hunched over a desk piled high with open books, browser tabs illuminating his face, and loose papers overflowing onto every surface. His tweed jacket looked like it hadn't left his shoulders in days, and crumbs dotted his shirt like a badge of honor.
Dan's face lit up. "Naomi! About damn time!"
Naomi greeted him with a quick, reluctant hug. "Good to see you too, Dan. Have you… showered?"
Dan shrugged sheepishly, pushing his glasses up his nose. "Showered? Not when I'm chasing down gods and secrets! You know me."
Ava raised an eyebrow, her skepticism barely hidden. "This is the expert you mentioned?"
Dan offered her a lopsided grin and extended his hand. "Dan Stratton. Historian by day, conspiracy nut by night. Pleased to meet you both."
Ava took his hand tentatively. "Right. So… you're the expert."
Dan chuckled. "I get that reaction a lot. But trust me, if it involves ancient mysteries or weird gods, I'm your guy."
Elias crossed his arms. "Alright, Dan. So, what do you know about the Aetherians?"
Dan's eyes sparkled like a kid with a new toy. "Ah, the Aetherians!" He yanked a thick notebook from the desk and flipped it open, landing on a page covered in scribbled notes. "These people worshipped beings they claimed came from the stars. Called them gods. But here's the kicker…" He grinned, tapping the page. "Some of them documented ways to kill these so-called gods."
Ava's eyebrows shot up. "Right, you mentioned that on the phone. Benevolent gods with kill instructions. Doesn't really add up, does it?"
Dan's grin widened. "Exactly! It's bizarre. I've got a theory, though." He lowered his voice as if sharing a secret. "I think there were two factions. One worshiped the gods blindly, the other believed the gods weren't as benevolent as they claimed. A civil war broke out, and the heretics—the ones who wanted to kill the gods—got wiped out."
Naomi leaned forward, her expression thoughtful. "So… if those heretics were right, and the gods were something else…"
Dan gave her a knowing nod. "Wouldn't be the first time ancient civilizations mistook monsters for gods."
Naomi folded her arms, exhaling in frustration. "By the way, any idea where the artifacts we dug up ended up? They're not in the collection catalog."
Dan scratched his head, looking sheepish. "Well… you know the museum's always short on funds. If the director found a buyer, it wouldn't surprise me if he sold a few 'extras' to keep the lights on."
Naomi swore softly. "A cultist told us their boss bought an Aetherian artifact. I wanted a closer look before they got their hands on it."
Dan's grin grew sly. "Oh, if it's someone buying artifacts under the table, we both know who that is."
Naomi's expression darkened. "Dan, don't—"
"We have to see Volkov," Dan said, barely containing his glee. "You remember him, right?"
Naomi groaned. "Not Volkov…"
Elias frowned. "Who's Volkov?"
Dan leaned back, clearly savoring the moment. "Ivan Volkov. Russian oligarch, obsessed with archaeology, especially anything tied to his family's property. He's bankrolled a bunch of digs, but only because he gets first pick of whatever we find."
Naomi muttered, folding her arms tighter. "He's also tried to 'woo' me at least five times. Thinks money and power make him irresistible."
Dan grinned, raising an eyebrow. "And he's old enough to be her grandfather! But it's always funny to watch her reject him."
Naomi shuddered. "Creepiest man alive."
Elias chuckled. "Not the best option, but maybe our only one for now."
Before Naomi could respond, her phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen, her face paling.
"It's from my brother," she said, voice tight.
Elias stiffened. "What does he want?"
Naomi swallowed, reading the message aloud. "'Someone came by asking about you. Said you owed them something.'"
Ava's frown deepened. "Do you?"
Naomi shook her head. "Hell no. My family was crushed by debt when I was a kid. I swore I'd never go down that path."
Dan's grin faded. "You guys… you're really in some deep shit, aren't you?"
Elias forced a smile. "Nothing we can't handle." But his clenched fists betrayed his unease.
Ava touched his arm gently. "Markus is smart, Elias. He'll be fine."
Elias nodded, jaw tight. "Yeah. I know."
They finalized plans to meet Volkov the next day, slipping back out through the museum's staff corridors. As they neared the exit, Elias turned to Naomi.
"Are you sure Dan can handle driving you? No offense, but he doesn't exactly scream 'reliable.'"
From the driver's seat, Dan honked playfully. "Hey! Extremely reliable when chocolate nougat's on the table. You remember your promise, Naomi."
Naomi smirked. "Don't worry. He'll manage. What about you, Elias?"
Elias grinned. "I'll head home, grab what I need, and meet you tomorrow. Quick in-and-out. Think of it like running a poison dungeon without resistance gear."
Naomi snorted. "So… a death wish."
Dan honked again, waving them over. Naomi turned back, giving Elias one last look.
"Don't be late, Elias. I'll text you the address."
Elias grinned back. "Wouldn't dream of it."