Eva looked at the vase. Its vivid scene of the dragon battle drew her to it, and she picked up the stone artifact. Something glinted from a crack near its neck, and upon closer inspection, revealed itself as silver. This was a silver jug.
She turned it over in her hands, checking it carefully, but she had no way of knowing its true nature unless she destroyed the stone and mural, and she wasn’t going to do that unless she absolutely had to. In the end, Eva grabbed a large plastic bag from under the table, carefully wrapped the artifacts, and stuffed them into the bag. She hoped that Papa would forgive her.
Suddenly, her earpiece crackled with static. “A man is entering the museum. He fits Lord Ti’s description.” Evaldsson’s voice, filled with tension.
“Miss Haraldsdóttir, collect the items and go out the back door,” Svensson commanded.
“What about you?”
“If it’s Lord Ti, I’ll distract him, but you must get out.” Through the window, she saw the guard pull out a gun and walk slowly down the hallway.
Eva yanked off her mask, threw the lab coat over a chair, grabbed the bag, and hoisted it over her shoulder. As she opened the emergency exit, the sharp bark of a gunshot echoed into the room, followed by an agonized cry and screams.
“Svensson? Svensson!” Evaldsson shouted through the earpiece.
A shadow darkened the hallway beyond the window, and a pair of glowing red eyes stared at her. Swearing, she dashed through the emergency door and into the hallway. Just as she reached the door leading outside, the sound of broken glass startled her. Ti had broken into the lab room.
Thorsson’s voice crackled through her earpiece. “Miss Haraldsdóttir, where are you?”
“I’m outside.” She took off down the alleyway, not daring to look back until she reached the main road. Eva risked a glance over her shoulder and held back a scream as she saw Ti walk casually towards her.
She ran across the street and dodged several cars that screeched to a sudden halt or weaved wildly to avoid hitting her. She ran down another alley, but the heavy bag slowed her down, and the items clanging against each other revealed her whereabouts.
“Miss Haraldsdóttir, talk! Where are you now?” Evaldsson demanded through the earpiece.
“I’m on Laugavegur Street,” she yelled. “He’s after me.”
“I’m coming for you now.”
“No! Ti wants me, but you must get the artifacts to Balthazar.”
Thorsson swore loudly. “Miss Haraldsdóttir…”
“Look, there’s no time to argue.” Eva spotted a large, half-empty garbage bin and placed the bag inside it. “The artifacts are in a white plastic bag in a green bin beside the Icelandic Pub. Just get them and go!”
She ran across another street and slowed to a fast walk, looking over her shoulder occasionally. She didn’t see Ti. “I think I lost him.”
“Don’t be arrogant,” Thorsson warned her. “This is a dragon you’re talking about. Keep moving and stay on the busy streets.”
Eva jumped as a couple appeared suddenly from the alley in front of her. Fighting to control her racing heart, she reached the end of the block and turned a corner. Ti stood halfway down the street, looking straight at her. Eva screamed and backpedaled furiously before turning to sprint down another alley. “He saw me!”
“Keep moving. Get someplace where there’s lots of people.”
Eva ran until she saw the entrance to the Blue Lagoon Hot Springs. Amongst the tourists, she should be safe until someone came for her. “I don’t want Ti to hear me,” she whispered urgently, “but the vase holds the clue.” She looked over her shoulder and saw a flash of red in the crowd. “Shit.” Eva had reached the hot springs’ entrance and fumbled in her pocket for change.
“Allow me.”
The deep voice startled her, and Eva looked over her shoulder and froze. Auburn hair and green eyes that flashed red stared back at her.
“I’m fine, thank you.” She fought hard to remain calm.
Ti Anda reached past her, giving the cashier money to pay their entrance fee. “Oh, but I insist. You gave me a good chase through the city streets. It’s the least I can do.”
Eva hoped Thorsson was listening to their conversation as Ti linked her arm with his. She had no choice but to follow him into the tourist site and towards a small café to their right.
“Don’t do anything stupid,” Thorsson warned her over the communications link.
“Ah, is that Thorsson’s voice I hear?” Ti held out his hand. “I’m sorry, but this conversation is between Miss Haraldsdóttir and myself.”