Erika sat alone on the couch by the fire at the back of the restaurant, slumped forward, staring into the flames as she reflected on the story Meera had told her. Anger, resentment, sadness, confusion, betrayal - so many emotions were roiling within her, and far more questions. Her search to find her brother had new meaning.

  She looked above the fire and at the painting that had been obscured by the Lady when they first arrived. It was surreal, not an abstraction of the world like Picasso, but something that could exist, if only in fantasy. At the center of the painting was an enormous geometric shape suspended in the sky; each side was a triangle of equal size. From its bottom, water poured out. There was a single figure some distance from it, standing on a flat plain staring up at it, a tiny speck compared to the monstrosity above. Erika couldn’t make out all the details, but it was puzzling and evocative.

  Betty was perusing the library of books filling the shelves that covered the back wall. The med student had little to offer her friend at this point. She sympathized and worried for her, but had to consider her own role in this and whether it made any sense to continue this preposterous and dangerous adventure, wherever it might lead next. Betty didn’t want to add to Erika’s troubles right now, but when the time came, she would have to choose what was best for herself.

  In the meantime, she was distracting herself with Guff’s library. It was a fascinating and bewildering collection of volumes that wouldn’t be out of place at the Beinecke, Yale’s rare book collection. There were texts from across the world and centuries old, some even copied by hand.

  Meera had returned to the bar to resume drinking and be alone. She was not a social person. It was a task, an act, when she engaged with others. Like she was putting on a mask, and she wanted to be rid of it.

  Guff had quieted down, with only a few patrons lingering as tables were cleared and drinks dried up.

  “Your brother is a rare person,” came a voice from behind Erika.

  She looked back to see the tall woman, the so-called Lady, looming like a specter. “Oh? What do you know about Max?”

  Walking around the couch, the Lady stood, waiting for an invitation to sit. Erika made an off-hand gesture. The woman sat so lightly Erika barely felt the couch shift. “Not as much as I’d like.”

  “Uh huh,” Erika said. “How’d he get an invitation to your club?”

  “He had attracted my attention. He’s… an exceptionally generous person.”

  Erika looked at her, fatigued. “He got your attention?”

  The Lady cocked her head slightly. “There is so much suffering. Max does what he can to relieve it. People owe their lives to him, but he wants none of their gratitude. He lives to make a better world, but he doesn’t want to live in it. He’s so… burdened with guilt. It hurts him, being among the satisfied and content. I think he’s afraid of becoming the same way.”

  Erika frowned at her. “Afraid? I never thought of him as being afraid of anything.” She turned back to stare at the fire.

  The Lady didn’t respond.

  Erika looked back at her. “So, is he some kind of big-shot lawyer around the city or something?”

  “No.”

  Erika glared at her. “Okay…”

  A frozen silence lingered as the woman stared at her.

  “You’re strange, you know that?”

  The woman nodded. “I can be, yes. I appreciate your candor. You’re quite beautiful.”

  Erika let out an unbidden cackle. “What?! I’m sorry?”

  The Lady grinned, “We’ve now both shared uncomfortable truths.”

  “I’m not,” Erika felt befuddled, “I… don’t know what to say.”

  “No one has told you that before.”

  Erika let out a breath and said, “Well, thank you.” She gazed at the curious woman for a moment and then asked, “What’s your name?”

  Her smile widened. “Azza.”

  “Azza,” Erika repeated. “Why do people call you the Lady?”

  “I endeavor to avoid preconceptions. Names have meaning. Every life is a subjective perception of the world. What one name means to you will not mean the same to another.”

  “Whatever suits you.”

  “I’d like to help you and that inebriated woman,” Azza gestured to Meera at the bar, “find your missing loved ones.”

  “You would?” Erika straightened up.

  “I know where Max and Ravi are.”

  Erika bolted upright. “You do?!”

  “They are in Greenland.”

  “Greenland?! What the hell are they doing there?”

  The Lady considered her words for a moment and then took Erika’s hand in her own. “Your brother shared his experience in Tunisia with me. It fascinated me. I’ve spent some time and resources researching what he described, this… underground temple, and have discovered there are other places of similar phenomena. Records of their existence are exceptionally rare and vague. They seem to be places of pilgrimage, despite being extraordinarily remote and inhospitable. One of these locations is in Greenland. And, like the others, its location is remote. Anyone traveling to it would use unusual means. I have friends and associates in many places and three days ago two men fitting the description of your brother and Mister Sharma, along with other persons, were seen leaving the capitol of Greenland on a chartered vessel, heading east along the shore.”

  “Oh,” Erika took a moment. “You have friends in Greenland?”

  “I have friends everywhere.”

  “I don’t understand, so whoever captured them is taking my brother to one of these temple things. Why?”

  “These places hold secrets, maybe even power of some kind. Ravi and your father learned things in Tunisia, and Ravi continued that research since. He’s invaluable to anyone looking to exploit one of these locations. I’m afraid your brother was caught up in this when they took Ravi.”

  “What are you going to do? Tell the government? Surely, they would do something? Or the police in Greenland?” Erika asked.

  “No. The governments of the world have many other concerns now. But I have the resources and means to bring your brother and Ravi to safety.”

  “That’s wonderful! How?”

  “You, Margaret and Meera will go to Greenland to bring them back.”

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  “Excuse—what? Me?”

  “Yes. I heard about your adventures today. You handled yourself capably.”

  “We were almost killed!”

  “Max spoke so highly of you. I know he’s not affectionate in a way that is comforting. But he knows you well, and said your worst fault was underestimating yourself at every opportunity.”

  Erika shook her head. “That’s sweet, but lady, we were shot at by an army!”

  “You won’t have to worry about them where you’re going. You are safer there than in Providence.”

  “How do you know that? Are they the ones that kidnapped my brother?”

  “No. They are something else… The world is on the brink and the existence of these temples has attracted attention from other parties. I’m sorry that you’ve been pulled into this, but I’m glad you’ve found your way here so I might help you.”

  Erika was overwhelmed. “Okay, but…”

  “Your brother needs you. He is far from home and your mother just died. You should be with him.”

  Erika nodded. “How am I getting to Greenland? You said Meera and…”

  “Margaret. She is extraordinary. A pilot, and so much more. Like yourself. You will fly out of the harbor tomorrow morning.”

  Erika was trying to make sense of everything she had just heard. She had so many questions. Looking down, she saw the bag by her feet. “I’m assuming this has Ravi’s research or something to do with the temple thing. I should probably get rid of it. Or hide it. That’s what those guys wanted.”

  “That bag saved your life. You should keep it with you.”

  “Well… I don’t know about that. Why not let Meera have it? It belongs to her husband.”

  “Meera has everything she needs. It may be useful to you on your journey.”

  “I can’t even open it.”

  “You’ll find a way.” Azza put her hand on Erika’s back and rubbed it. “This has been a challenging day for you. I’m sorry this happened all at once.”

  Erika took a deep breath. This strange woman had all this information so quickly and conveniently. She was a part of this in ways she wasn’t revealing.

  Erika stared at the pale, lanky woman. There was something unnatural about her. An ethereal quality that was unsettling. But all the same, Erika felt a closeness to her, an openness and even comfort that was familial. She felt like she could tell her anything, and it would be respected, even appreciated.

  Erika shook her head. “This is ridiculous. What am I to do in Greenland? Whoever took my brother and Ravi, what am I going to do to get him back?”

  “Margaret and Meera are quite capable of handling any dangers you face. You’ll also have a guide, an old colleague of mine. He’ll keep you safe and out of harm’s way. But I’m not unmoored from the reality of the situation. You will be provided with supplies suitable for your destination. You will have everything you need to resolve this situation. My friend goes by Qillaq. Margaret knows him well. He taught her how to fly.” Azza rubbed Erika’s shoulder. “You are tired and should rest. I don’t want to burden you anymore tonight.”

  “Burden? You’re the one sending me off to Greenland!” Erika groaned. “What’s your stake in all this? Why are you doing all this? If you have all these resources then you must have someone who’s better suited for this kind of work than me!”

  “This is about doing what should be done. Max and Ravi should be returned to safety. And if Ravi’s knowledge is so valuable, and perhaps dangerous, then we must protect it. As for you, it’s trust. It’s your brother, it’s the life he’s led and what he’s told me of you. I trust you to do the right thing.”

  “That’s ridiculous. I’m a secretary with a penchant for baked goods and crossword puzzles. You’re crazy to trust me with this.”

  Azza smiled. “You’re much more.” She leaned over and kissed her on the forehead and then stood, her full height towering over Erika, who glared at her incredulously.

  “Margaret will be along shortly. I don’t need to wish you any luck, Erika. I’m looking forward to seeing you again.” She walked past the fire and through the door to the lighthouse.

  Erika noticed Betty had been sitting in a nearby chair for some time, listening in. “What do you think?” she asked her.

  “I wouldn’t trust her.” Betty said flatly. “She knows too much, or she’s just nuts.”

  Erika put her heavy head in her hands. “Yeah.”

  “You’re not flying to Greenland then.” Betty’s tone was more of an insistence than a question.

  “I don’t know what else to do. Max trusted her, and he’s all I have. I have to save him.” She stared at the painting of the floating shape over the fireplace.

  “What?” Betty was confused. “You’re going?”

  “Yes,” Erika said confidently.

  “You might die, Erika.”

  “This morning I buried my mother. I didn’t realize it, but I’d been waiting for it. Caring for her was my life, my entire boring life. This is my chance for a new one. This opportunity is crazy and dangerous, and who the hell knows what’s going to happen? But I’m going to find out. At the end of it, my brother will be safe and I’ll… I’ll see where I end up.”

  Betty shook her head. She almost said something but stopped short and instead leaned back in her chair. Seeing her friend put herself through this was hard to fathom, but she had to respect her decision.

  Some time later, Margaret, her tailored jacket slung over her left arm, walked over, Meera lagging behind her, unbalanced and eyes unfocused. “We have beds prepared upstairs, along with pajamas and a change of clothing for each of you. Let me show you the way.”

  “We’re spending the night here?” Betty asked.

  “That’s what the Lady expected, yes,” the muscular woman answered. “It’s late. I could help you find a hotel if you’d prefer, but you wouldn’t be able to get a train till early morning if you were thinking about returning home.”

  Erika got up from the couch, picked up the messenger bag beside her leg, and looked at her roommate. “Come on, just spend the night. I think we’ll be safe,” she looked to the buff woman standing before them.

  “You’ll be safe. Don’t worry one bit about that.” Margaret said.

  “Why do you sound so confident?” Betty asked.

  “I’ve lived here for three years. We never have trouble.” Margaret said, “If you don’t trust the Lady, I hope you can trust me at least.”

  Betty shrugged, offering no protest.

  “My room is downstairs, so if you need anything, just knock,” Margaret said as she led the women through a swinging door into the kitchen. Inside, two chefs were cleaning up for the night. They exchanged greetings with the women.

  Along the back wall were three doorways. Margaret gestured to the closest one, “That’s me.” Pointing to the far one, “That’s the toilet. Just one for us to share. So, maybe hold off on putting on your face first thing.” She moved to the center door and opened it. “Upstairs are the beds.” Turning on an overhead light, she walked up creaky steps.

  It was a long room, extending the full length of the building, with round windows at either end, one looking out to the city, the other at the ocean. Four beds were arranged under the slanted ceiling, along with short bureaus and folded piles of clothing atop three of them. Margaret pointed to each bed in turn, “Erika, Betty and Meera. I hope you don’t mind the outfit choices. But the Lady prefers practicality over fashion.”

  “She got outfits for us?” Betty asked. “How’d she pull that off? Or know our sizes?”

  “She’s a very capable woman,” Margaret answered.

  “Very strange is more like it,” Betty grumbled.

  “You’ll get used to her.”

  Betty looked at her dubiously.

  “Or not.” Margaret took a step down the stairs. “I’ll be up another hour if you need anything, but the club’s closed, so it’ll be pretty quiet.”

  “Thanks, Margaret,” Erika said with relief. “This is really so generous.”

  “Think nothing of it. The Lady takes care of her friends.” She walked down the stairs and shut the door.

  “Friends?” Betty said to Erika, who just looked away in response and walked to her assigned bed at the far end of the room, toward the ocean view.

  “Allies aren’t easily won,” Meera said to Betty, “and friends are worth keeping. I wouldn’t be so quick to dismiss this Lady nor Erika’s trust in her.”

  “Do you trust her? She wants to send you to Greenland. She says Max and Ravi are there.” Betty’s tone revealed her deep skepticism.

  “Margaret filled me in. Sounds plausible. And we have no other leads.”

  “Plausible? That’s it? You’re going to go along with this?” Betty felt like she was the only rational one left in this group.

  Meera looked Betty over. Her agitation was palpable. “I know Max. Ravi trusts him more than anyone. Myself included. If Max trusted the Lady, that’s reason enough. How much do you trust Erika?”

  Betty glared back, and Meera cocked an eyebrow and walked away to her prepared bed.

  The three women changed into their pajamas and wound down for the evening before eventually falling asleep.