The Black Madonna (The Mystique Trilogy) Read Free

he was shorter than your average human male, but perhaps he would grow taller as he was still young. His youth was emphasised by his college-style shirt, trousers and sweater-vest.
    ‘Do you need a jacket or something, Miss—’
    ‘Tamar Devere.’ I held out my slender, perfectly manicured hand.
    He shook it very briefly, a little flustered by my attention. ‘You’re Mia Devere’s little girl?’ He was stunned, as he’d obviously been told how old I was.
    ‘We mature fast in my family.’
    I eased past him to enter the office, finding it all but deserted. ‘And you are?’
    ‘Emmett, Dr Rich’s son,’ he said. I was none the wiser so he explained further. ‘Dr Colin Rich, the anthropologist who’s project manager here.’
    ‘Ah. Do you work for your father?’
    ‘I work with him sometimes, yeah.’ Emmett returned to his desk. ‘I’m still a student, but I run the site office while Dad is down the hole.’
    He took a seat, and became immediately engrossed in what he was reading on his computer. Either he was overwhelmed by my beauty and very shy, or he did not find me the slightest bit attractive.
    ‘Are you gay?’
    Emmett nearly choked on the drink he was slurping through a straw. ‘What? No…no.’
    ‘How old are you?’ My guess was around sixteen.
    ‘Do you always ask such personal questions of perfect strangers?’ he said indignantly.
    ‘I was just wondering why you don’t find me attractive.’
    He looked back to his computer, which annoyed me. ‘Legally, I’m not permitted to find you attractive for at least another three years.’
    Since my merger with Kali, I was used to bowling people over, inspiring awe and desire. What could he be reading that was so all-absorbing? I strolled behind him to find out.
    It was an article titled ‘The Circles of Power Behind UFO Secrecy’, written by the founder of CSETI—the Center for the Study of Extraterrestrial Intelligence.
    ‘So you’re a believer?’ I said.
    He jumped, clearly oblivious to the fact that I had moved. ‘Absolutely,’ he said, his eyes still pinned to the screen. ‘I’m a regular A to Z directory on anything remotely relating to a cover-up.’
    ‘Have you been abducted?’ I asked directly.
    ‘Not that I recall. I’m just a good researcher.’ His tone implied I was being predictable. ‘You’re a sceptic, I take it?’
    ‘Not at all. I know quite a bit about the Old World Order…or theNew World Order as it’s now known.’ I’d finally secured his attention. ‘Why so surprised?’
    ‘Why am I surprised that a girl like you would spare a thought for conspiracy theories?’ Emmett thought the answer was obvious. ‘Hell, I’m surprised you even read!’
    I took offence. ‘Excuse me! I’ve just co-authored a book, so I write as well.’
    ‘Good for you.’ He seemed more interested in his article. ‘What’s your book about?’
    ‘The Grail bloodline,’ I said, and his attention shot back to me. ‘It’s just a fantasy story.’
    Disappointed, he went back to his screen. ‘Then you should have a lot in common with our sponsor, Mr La-bent…most of the time,’ he said sarcastically. ‘Otherwise known as “I have the money and can afford to have an eccentric interest in digging up half the country while chasing an ancient myth”.’
    Emmett’s resentful humour amused me. ‘You mean the myth that the Grail is buried beneath this mountain?’
    He arrowed down the page on his screen. ‘My personal opinion is that the Grail hunt is just a smokescreen for what La-bent is truly seeking down there.’
    How interesting , I thought. ‘And what might that be?’
    He shook his head and chuckled quietly. ‘I’m not going to tell you, in case what I heard is a fabrication and I look a fool for repeating it. But fear not, I’m sure he’ll confide in you presently.’ ‘Really. Why?’
    He laughed again. ‘He is going to love you. Legal constraints have never been a major concern of the rich and