The Sickened Luna's Last Chance novel Chapter 157

Chapter 157

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Chapter 157

“… I can’t refuse a direct order from my Lama,” Be muttered, clearly struggling to hold back the words to no avail.

“No, you can’t. Take me to the safe.’

Gabriel’s jaw worked like he wanted to refuse, but the Luna Voice made it impossible for him to disobey. With obvious reluctance, he nodded and gestured toward the mansion.

“This way.”

I followed him through the front door and down the hallway. We passed Alexander’s office, the formal dining room, and several other rooms before Gabriel stopped in front of the basement door.

Pulling a small keyring out of his pocket, he unlocked the door and pushed it open, revealing the narrow staircase that led down to the basement. I wrinkled my nose at the musty smell; I never went down there, finding the entire space creepy, and Alexander had never given me access to the Ashclaw jewels like a typical Luna would, so there was no reason for me to enter.

Because to him, my neck wasn’t worthy of wearing his family heirlooms.

But I wasn’t going down there for jewels or gold, just wanted a little silver locket that was far more valuable to me than any diamonds.

“The safe is at the bottom,” Gabriel said, flicking on the light switch and illuminating the stairs. “But Luna, I really think you should reconsider. Alexander won’t be pleased if he finds.

out

“Alexander doesn’t need to know about this visit. I started down the stairs without waiting for his response. “Unless you plan to tell him?”

“No, Luna.” Gabriel’s footsteps echoed behind me as he reluctantly followed. “I won’t

mention it.”

The air grew cooler and more dank as we descended the spiral stone staircase. When we reached the bottom, Gabriel moved past me to unlock another door-this one much heavier and more secure.

After punching a code into the keypad, Gabriel stepped back. The door swung open with a loud groan, revealing the vault within.

The space was larger than I’d imagined, with congrete walls and climate-controlled air that felt cool and dry against my skin. But what really aught my attention were the glass display cases lining the walls, each one containing an array of jewelry, artifacts, books, scrolls, and other valuables that gleamed under the bright lights.

Rings, necklaces, bracelets, ornate daggers, silver goblets, antique watches-the collection

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was massive. Hundreds of pieces, maybe thousands, all carefully displayed.

“Goddess,” I breathed, turning in a slow circle to take it all in.

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“Five generations of Alpha acquisitions,” Gabriel said from where he was leaning against the entryway. “Each piece has historical significance or substantial monetary value, so the space is completely climate controlled. We’re not supposed to have the door open for longer than five minutes at a time.”

“Why?”

“Because the oxygen can harm the artifacts,” Gabriel responded with an eye roll as if I’d asked why the sky was blue. “Once the door locks, all of the air is sucked out of the vault to ensure that nothing gets damaged.”

“Well, I won’t be here for long. Just tell me where the locket is and I’ll leave.”

Gabriel hesitated for a moment, then pointed toward a case near the back of the room. “It was catalogued this morning. Case seventeen.”

I walked toward the indicated display, my eyes scanning the contents for Lilith’s necklace. There were a lot of other pieces there, most of them probably worth more than most people’s homes, but I didn’t see the locket.

“It’s not here-”

Slam. Click.

I whirled around, gasping, to find that the door had been slammed shut. The large wheel on the door turned, then clicked ominously as the lock slid into place.

I was locked in the vault-and I realized with a sinking feeling, judging from the timer on the wall counting down from one minute, that I didn’t have long before I ran out of air.