***
Martin felt uneasy as they walked down the dark corridor. The symbol on that book was etched in his mind. Something about it was vaguely familiar and he raced through his memories trying to figure out where he’d seen it before. He was more than relieved to meet up with the others at the end of the entrance.
“Hey,” he said as Barb walked toward them. “Did you guys find anything?”
Barb didn’t reply as she walked past toward the egg chamber. Martin noticed right away her nose and eyes were red and swollen.
“Barb?”
Martin didn’t hear Jezryall walk up behind him. He jumped as she laid her hand on his shoulder.
“Leave her alone, Mr. Cunningham,” the Scot said, as he and Daniel came into view. “Today is not a good day for her.”
“What happened?” Jezryall asked as Daniel passed them and walked into the next chamber.
“There is an altar room at the end of this corridor,” Aslin said. “They were sacrificing a young woman when we came upon them.” He looked mournfully at Jezryall. “There was nothing we could do.”
Martin couldn’t believe what he heard. “They killed someone? Right now?”
“Just a few moments ago. Most likely a member of the Embassy staff.”
Jezryall stepped away, toward the far corridor and sniffed the air. “Do you know to whom they made the sacrifice to?”
Aslin shook his head. “No, Mistress. We came upon it just at the end.”
Martin ran his fingers roughly through his hair. “We need to shut these people down. Before they kill anyone else!”
“There are two people, alive and chained to the walls. I fear for their safety if we do nothing.” Aslin stepped in front of Jezryall. “We may not have time to summon Rowan, Mistress.”
Jezryall’s body began to mist over in black smoke as the smell of rotten eggs grew stronger. She turned her head slightly to one side, just enough for Martin to see the crimson glow. “Then we do as Mr. Cunningham suggested, and we shut them down now!”