"Aric! Are you all right?" Court scrambled to his side.
"Yeah." Sitting up, he rubbed his head. There was a slight trickle of blood. "That hurt."
"What happened?"
"The temple shifted. I think we may have sunk further."
Court's green eyes filled with tears. Aric smiled determinedly.
"We'll get out of this, kiddo. Just have faith."
Searching, Aric found a possible answer. Depending on the angle of the temple, they could try to get out one of the side entrances, if there was one. Unfortunately, he figured it was about 200 feet above him. There was no way to tell how long the air would last. The temple was big, but the air was hot, dusty and stale and Aric's lungs were burning from breathing it. Eyes itching, he watched Court carefully. Her breathing was labored, her eyes red from crying and the dust. They didn't have long.
* * *
Ariane kept shoveling. The number of men working had to be cut back. The temple was too unstable to have so much weight on it.
"Find the door!" she had yelled. From every side they were searching for an entrance. Rope around her waist, she crawled around on the exposed side. Quinn was on the other end, doing the same.
Mud caked her legs and hair, streaking her face. She hadn't stopped for a shower or food, shoving into her mouth whatever was brought to her.
* * *
"What do you think it would take to get Ari to admit she loves you?"
"My physical death," he muttered in response.
"There has to be another way."
"If there is, I don't know it."
Aric removed his mud‑caked shirt. Courtney tried not to stare at his muscled torso, which was exactly like Quinn's. Quinn was so damn cautious about what they did physically, it drove her nuts. Things would heat up and he would push her away. It had gotten worse since they had been sharing the trailer with Aric for the last week, the time she had been staying with them. Court didn't know how to tell Quinn she wanted to advance their relationship. Of course, if they died in here . . .
"There has to be a way up there," he muttered. Court reached out for a pillow and it crumbled in her hand. Aric turned around.
"Try not to touch anything, Court. This stuff is so fragile it isn't funny."
"What about the temple itself? Will it collapse from the air exposure?" she asked. Aric hesitated to answer.
“I don't know," he finally said. "Dena's area of expertise is carbon dating. Not mine."
"Are you sure they won't give up?" she asked.
"Quinn owes me. I've bailed his ass out of trouble so many times I've lost count. He knows I'd come back and haunt him for the rest of his life." Aric forced a grin.
* * *
Ariane stayed until after dark. Aric and Courtney had been trapped for almost twelve hours by the time Quinn finally pulled her away. She collapsed from fatigue, sobbing. Grimly he carried her back to the trailer. Asleep in his arms before they ever made it, he set her gently on her bed. Exhausted, he laid next to her for a moment and was sound asleep.
Dena rotated the crew around the clock, taking short cat naps. She had called Thomkins and had night lights flown in. Set up at all angles, workers continued the search for a door. Sometime after dawn, she fell asleep.
* * *
Ariane awoke suddenly, startled by the body next to her. Looking closely, she realized it was Quinn. In sleep, his features were relaxed and innocent. Ariane had almost kissed him, till she remembered it wasn't Aric.
She had dreamt haunting dreams of him, calling her name as he died under the temple. She had to get to them. An apology was necessary to both. Praying that near death experience wouldn't ruin whatever he still felt for her, she had to tell him she still loved him.
Climbing over Quinn's body, she headed out of the trailer. There was no point in changing clothes, they would only get muddy again.
* * *
Ariane relieved Jonny and took her place digging again. The sky had clouded up again overnight. The crew was nervous, not wanting a repeat of yesterday's sudden storm. They worked faster.
"Why didn't you wake me?" a voice demanded an hour later. She turned to see Quinn.
"You were tired. I wanted to let you sleep."
"Don't do it again. We're a team, Ariane."
Nodding, she acknowledged the bond. A crack of thunder made them both look up.
"No," she whispered. Quinn swallowed.
"It can't rain," he muttered. "It just can't."
Mockingly, the drops began to fall. Ariane sank down.
“No. The temple...it'll decompose...we won't be able to get to them...they can't have much air....if they're in there . . . Courtney," she whispered. Suddenly she slammed her fist down on her leg.
"Courtney!"
"Ari! Get a grip!" Quinn moved towards her. Ariane looked up to the sky, where heavier rain was starting to pound.
"If you want someone, take me! Don't fuck with my life anymore! I want him back, ok? I love him! I want him back!" she screamed to the sky, suddenly on her feet. Rain came rushing down, soaking them. Quinn was frozen. Unable to move, he watched her screaming to the gods.
"Strike me now if you want, but, god dammit, give me my sister!! Give me Aric back, dammit!!"
The earth trembled and she fell. Quinn was freed and caught her before her head could hit the temple. Clinging to him, the mud suddenly started running off of the very place Ariane had been standing. The entire crew watched as the rain stopped, the clouds parted, and there was the door, gilded and gleaming.
Artemis, written in Greek, covered in etchings of the stag, the moon and other symbols associated with the goddess.
Ariane rose to her knees. Quinn slowly got up. The crew inched closer. Dena ran up, grabbing Ariane.
"My god," she whispered.
Breaking through the clouds came the sun, shining down on the golden seal of Artemis.
* * *
Aric woke to hear a noise above. Court was curled up against him, asleep, her head resting on his chest. The poor kid had cried herself to sleep, eventually. Sitting up carefully, he listened. There was a scratching above him. On the circle . . . what he guessed to be the door.
“Court," he said softly. "Court, wake up."
"What?" she sat up, rubbing her eyes.
"I think they found us."
“Really?"
"Yeah . . . move!" Leaping forward, he pulled the girl with him as plaster from above started to crumble down. Light streamed in. Both shaded their eyes.
"Aric! Court!"
"Ariane!" Aric jumped to his feet.
"Aric! Hang on, big brother!"
The light was blocked for a moment as Ariane descended, hanging onto the rope. Feet barely touching the floor, she ran for Courtney and grabbed her tightly, crying.
"I'm sorry, Court. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean it, I didn't. I love you. You're my baby sister; I'm sorry," Ariane wept. Court held onto her sister crying.
"I love you, too, Ari," she was hiccuping. Quickly, Ariane untied the rope from her waist and tied it around her sister's.
"We've got get you guys out of here." she wiped her eyes. "Quinn, pull her up!"
Kissing her sister on the cheek, Ariane whispered "He loves you".
Court held onto the rope as she was lifted up. Ariane watched to make sure she was safe, then felt Aric's eyes on her. Turning, she looked at him.
"Here it is," he said quietly. "Your dream. The temple."
"It's fabulous." Her eyes started to roam. Walking quietly, she stared at the artwork. "Aric, do you have any idea what this means?"
Aric. Finally she had addressed him.
Swallowing back his tears, quietly, he said, "Yep. You'll be famous."
“I'm glad you're all right," she managed.
Aric nodded.
"Yeah, well I knew Quinn wouldn't let me die down here."
The rope was coming back down.
"You should get out of here, get some fresh air."
Silently he nodded, stepping around her to the descending rope. Ariane took a deep breath and turned to him, grabbing his sleeve.
"Aric, wait."
When he turned she pulled him to her and kissed him deeply and passionately. Aric pulled away, his eyes angry.
"Don't play games with me, Ariane. I won't suffer at your hands again." He tied the rope around his waist in a fury.
"I ‑ I'm not trying to play a game," she said. "I ‑ I couldn't ‑ help it."
Aric shook his head. Still, after almost dying, she couldn't admit her feelings to him. Ariane turned away to hide her tears.
Tugging on the rope he watched her as he ascended.
* * *
Up top, Quinn kissed Court passionately.
"I thought I would never see you again," he murmured, brushing her bangs back. She smiled.
"It was Aric. He was the brave one. He knew you'd find us."
"Ariane kept the digging going," he replied, holding her tightly. Jonny let the rope down for Aric. "But I knew you weren't dead."
Quinn hugged his brother when he emerged from the temple, immediately sensing the problem. Aric swallowed his pain before anyone else could see.
"She's down there looking around," Aric said.
Dena looked at him sadly. How could Ariane still do this?
"Let me go down. Please?" she asked. Aric gave her the rope. Court turned to him. Looking at his brother and Court he said, "It's over. She can't admit it."
“No." Court shook her head. "It can't be."
"You're a sweet kid, Court. I would have loved having you for my sister‑in‑law." Holding back his tears he said, "I'll go get Thomkins on the phone."
* * *
Dena reached her friend.
"What the hell are you doing?" she demanded.
"Dena, look at this . . . look at these writings . . . these have been here for 2000 years . . . just waiting for me . . you saw what happened up there."
"Yeah, I did. You owe her."
"Who?" Ariane asked blankly, running her fingers over the moldings.
"Artemis."
"Huh?" Ariane turned to her friend. Dena's eyes flashed with anger.
"I saw you up there, yelling to her. You said you wanted Aric back. She gave him to you, honey, on a silver platter. You let him go."
"What?" Ariane was focused on the temple.
"He's given up, Ariane. You broke him. I hope this was worth it. I don't think a goddess would be very happy if you broke your word to her."
"Aric . . . but he was right here!" she looked around.
"He left, Ari. I'm sorry, but this time you did screw up."
Dena turned and walked back to the rope, leaving Ariane alone in the temple. Kneeling in front of the life‑size statue of the goddess, she closed her eyes. Built in the center of the room, it was fully intact. The marble statue stood on a pedestal, long, marbleized hair blowing back as her bow was drawn, ready to shoot an arrow. Dressed in a tunic and barefoot, a large hound was tensed at her side. Across the lovely amazon’s face was an intense look of concentration.
“What do I do?" she asked aloud. "How do I handle this?" Sighing, she leaned against the statue, almost hugging it. "How do I tell him I love him?"
"Just tell him."
Ariane looked up.
"What?" she whispered. The statue had become soft and pliable, Artemis put one arm around her.
"Just tell him."
"Artemis," she whispered. The goddess' golden hair fell down over her shoulders in long curls. Her leather hunting dress looked new, and over her shoulder were slung her bow and arrow. Kind, blue eyes smiled at her.
"Don't fear me, my child. Your faith awakened me."
"How?" Ariane whispered. The hound sat patiently at his mistress' side, bright blue eyes trained on Ariane. His coat was thick and silvery gold, his build powerful. Ears perked, long tail still.
“You always believed. Walk with me."
Artemis took her by the hand and they walked through the temple. The plants were blooming. The colors of the tapestries were vivid and bright. Around her were Artemis' priestesses in their white robes, conversing quietly. Through a doorway they went, and Ariane recognized a group of women, dressed as warriors.
"Amazons," she murmured. Artemis smiled. "They did exist."
"Yes. This temple is their haven. I am their patroness and protector."
"This is . . . incredible," Ariane whispered.
"I don't know how much time we have, and there is a lot to tell you."
"How did the temple vanish?" Ariane asked.
"Faith can be a fickle friend," Artemis said quietly as they walked. The hound paced at her side, his silvery fur gleaming. "As Christianity gained strength in Greece, we Olympians were pushed aside. People started to believe in one almighty power, as opposed to multiple gods. Our temples emptied, praises were shifted, and generally, people just stopped . . . believing. Those who did were persecuted as heathens, pagans and witches. No one realized, including us . . that we were only as strong as the people believed us to be. Without that belief . . . we would cease to exist. Finally, I sent my priestesses to their homes, for their own safety. I closed the doors one summer day . . . and sank the temple, until someone whose faith was as strong as old Greece's used to be came looking for me. And here you are." Artemis smiled on Ariane.
"I did this?" she asked. Nearby, a group of Amazons were laughing. A priestess walked past, smiling at them.Th e goddess, kept her arm linked through Ariane's as they walked.
"Yes. Your faith has awakened me. And by doing so, the others can be awakened someday."
"Someday? Why not now?" Ariane asked.
"The world is not ready for the return of the Olympian gods, Ariane. The world battles its own religious war, even in this day. The cycle will continue I fear, for many years to come until humanity learns tolerance and respect. But our time will arrive soon and you will be to thank for it." Artemis gave her a gentle smile.
“Me?" Ariane asked, heart pounding. Dizziness swept over her.
"Time is fading now, Ariane. But keep this as a symbol of my love, and know that I am always near you." Artemis pressed something cool into her hand.
Ariane smiled at her and asked, "What about Aric? How do I tell him?"
"That you love him? Child, I am not Aphrodite . . . but listen to your heart. Just tell him."
"Just tell him?" The world starting spinning.
"Just tell him," Artemis' voice echoed over her as everything went black.
"Ariane?" a gentle, male voice spoke.
"Just tell him," she murmured. Quinn lifted her into a sitting position.
"Tell who?"
"Huh?" Ariane opened her eyes, staring into Quinn's. "Quinn?"
"Yeah. You passed out. We need to get you out of here."
"Where is she?"
"Where's who?" Quinn asked patiently.
"Artemis," Ariane murmured. "She was here. I talked to her."
"C'mon, honey. Time to leave."
Ariane realized she was back in the main room where they had found Aric and Courtney, the rope hanging down a few feet away.
“But‑"
"We'll discuss it up top."
Quinn fastened the makeshift harness to her and called up to the men. Ariane held onto the rope as she was lifted. Quinn studied the statue she had been leaning against, her arms wrapped around tightly. The resemblance was unnerving. And if he didn't know better, he'd swear the goddess was watching him.
* * *
Thomkins had arrived by helicopter, along with machines and more people. Ariane ran through the crowd, trying to see Aric. Finally Quinn caught her.
"Thomkins needs to see us."
"Where's Aric?"
"I don't know. Haven't seen him. Come on."
Ariane greeted Thomkins, her heart plunging when he announced that Aric had just left on the helicopter to Athens. The older twin would handle the paperwork.
"I must congratulate you, Ariane. Aric tells me everything here is your discovery."
"They all helped," she said quietly.
"How long do you think it will take to get the temple out of the mud?" he asked. Ariane shrugged, trying to follow him. Aric was gone.
"A couple months, I guess. It's fragile and it's a big setback."
"Well, we're bringing in a full lab for Dena to start the carbon dating. The press will be all over this within hours." Thomkins eyes gleamed at the thought of a million dollars in free press.
"Yeah, I know."
"We have everything ready, it seems. I'll head back to Athens this afternoon."
"When will Aric be back?" Ariane asked.
"I suspect it will take a while to get everything settled," Thomkins replied. "You know it can take months."
"Aric usually handles the paperwork," Quinn told her. Ariane nodded.
"Do I need to go for anything?"
"No. Aric assured me you'd be better off here, to handle things. He'll make sure you're fully credited, Ariane. This was your project."
Thomkins smiled, shaking her hand. Ariane forced a smile. Her life's goal had been reached, but her heart was empty.
* * *
The next two months, crews worked double time raising the temple. The media had been all over the discovery, pestering the team until Ariane lost her temper. She had the government ban the media; after explaining to them that their presence was disturbing and so much handling of the artifacts could destroy them, the government of Greece readily agreed.
With the temple finally out of the ground, the archeology team was being flown to Athens for a big conference. Only once did Ariane allow herself to be interviewed. Quinn stayed on the
site, but Aric did not return. He was buried in paperwork in Athens, Quinn had spoken to him a few times on the phone, but the older brother had not returned to the site.
Ariane couldn't bring herself to tell Aric she loved him, not over the phone. Guilt swelled within her. She felt as though she had broken her word to Artemis. Sitting at har desk late at night, her fingers ran over the coin Artemis had pressed into her hand. One side had the impression of Artemis' head, the other side a bow and arrow . Her magnifying glass revealing elaborate scrolling around the edge. Hopefully more coins would be found, because this could real the ancient Greeks as way more technically advanced than originally thought. But if not. . .Ariane wasn't about to surrender it to the government.
Within another week, the dig would be officially over. Ariane would return to the museum and the apartment she shared with Dena. Quinn was going with Aric to Milan for a vacation. Ariane had a feeling Courtney wanted to go with them, but she hadn't approached her yet. Dena had already consulted her lawyer to try and get her son back.
Since surviving the mudslide, Courtney and Ariane had become much closer. Aric was a topic Ariane would not discuss, though Quinn had told Courtney and Aric about her confession. Aric refused to believe it and told Quinn he had met a wonderful local girl in Athens that he was seeing, and that Ariane was no longer of any importance to him.
Despite their newfound closeness, Courtney was terrified to ask Ariane for money to go to Milan. As the controller of her trust fund, Ariane could crush Court's hopes. Quinn kept telling her not to worry, he had plenty of money. Courtney dreaded being dependent on him. She had been dependent on her parents, now Ariane.
While she was gathering the courage to talk to her sister, Dena told her Ariane wanted to talk to her.
"What's up?" the younger girl asked. Ariane was sitting in the trailer, where Court had moved back to, feet up on her bed, sitting at her makeshift desk.
"Sit."
“That sounds kinda ominous." Court sat slowly.
"I talked to Mom and Dad today."
"And?" Court's heart was pounding.
"They do not like the idea of you running off to Milan with Quinn."
"They don't even know him! That's so not fair! Hey ‑ how did you know?"
"Hush already and let me finish. I know everything you're up to, missy." Ariane said testily. Court became quiet.
"You have to see it from their point of view. You're eighteen and running around Greece with an older man. Of course they're going to worry."
Court sighed. Well, since Ariane knew about her Milan plans, she might as well ask her. Taking a deep breath, Ariane cut her off with a wave of her hand.
"You're lucky that Mother hates dealing with this type of thing. Father was too drunk to be coherent when I spoke to him, so I called our lawyers myself."
"Lawyers?" Court was alarmed. Were they putting her back in school? They couldn't!
“We'll be in Athens next week. The papers will be ready for us to sign. Since I have power of attorney over your funds, Mother and Father won't need to sign them."
"What are you saying?" Court asked.
"I'm signing over partial control of your money."
"You are??" Court was flabbergasted.
“Now, I'm not handing you all of your money." Ariane warned. "I'm giving you partial control. You'll have a monthly allowance that you can access whenever you want to. If you try to go over the limit, the account will freeze and I will be notified. Then you'll have to explain to me what you want it for, and if I agree, I will authorize it. Understand?"
Court nodded. It was more than she had hoped for.
“I can't just give an eighteen‑year‑old several million dollars. That just doesn't work." Ariane chuckled. "And Mother almost had a heart attack, but I can do it. That's why they put me in charge of your money."
"Thanks, Ari. I can live on a budget, I promise." Court was glowing. Ariane chuckled.
"Good." She didn't mention it was also set up to protect Court from getting conned into giving away her money. The world was full of nuts and charlatans.
"Are you excited about Athens next week?" Ariane asked. Court nodded. "I think you'll like it. I hope you get to see some of it before you go to Milan."
"I want to."
Court smiled shyly at her sister. Despite her beauty, Ariane was sad. Court had seen misery in her sister's eyes for months now. And she was sure it had to do with Aric. Quinn wasn't sure if Aric was telling the truth about this girl in Athens or if he just wanted Quinn to leave him alone.
"I've been living in this trailer for almost three years." Ariane muttered, more to herself. "It feels like home. I'm not sure I want to go back to civilization."
"Well, I do. I want a real shower. And pastries! And I would kill for a Milky Way!" Court grinned. "But it's been kinda nice hanging here."
"Dena and I have the most beautiful place in downtown. I've almost forgotten what it looks like," Ariane said quietly.
"So, once this is all over and you go back to Athens, will I ever see you again?" Courtney asked. Ariane shrugged.
"Probably. Mother likes to pop up every couple years and annoy the hell out of me. Besides, you'll know where I am. You can call me whenever. Like when you run out money." Ariane chuckled. Court grinned at her sister.