The Name of Eternity

Chapter 3: A Knock on the Door

Rhea made her way back to her coworkers.

Opening the door to their workstation, she said, “The craziest thing just happened to me. I was…"

“Oh, Rhea!" Andrew interrupted. “We have decided you are coming with us tonight after work, no excuses!"

Elisa and Stephen cheered, then began to talk animatedly about the history of the pub. Rhea took a soft breath. Her story could wait.

“Hey…I still don't have any clothes. The airline lost my luggage," she said.

Elisa patted Rhea's hand, “I'll bring some clothes to work that I don't wear anymore. No excuses, though, we are celebrating our new coworker tonight."

They stuck to their word. As soon as the workday ended, Stephen, Andrew and Elisa joined Rhea in Edwin's cab and made a quick stop at Elisa's place to grab some clothes for their poor coworker. Then, the cheerful group headed for The Merry Otter.

The Merry Otter was undeniably the oldest pub in the area. The owners had kept the wooden walls, bar and floor, accenting the atmosphere with an old-looking, gray stone fireplace at the far end. Andrew grabbed a table near the bar, and soon the group was deep in conversation and laughter. The pub was busy, with people coming and going, meeting friends and relaxing after work. As Rhea took in her surroundings, her gaze fell on a dimly-lit booth by the fireplace. Three men sat quietly, sipping their mugs of dark beer. The man facing Rhea's table looked up and Rhea's heart jumped. Arras Mordhas stared back at her, then blinked in recognition. He gave a slight nod, and turned back to his company.

“So, Rhea," Andrew brought her attention back to the group. “How did you end up here? We've been guessing, but you haven't said anything."

It was a question Rhea had been dreading. Closing her eyes, she decided her coworkers would find out eventually anyway, and tried to explain as simply as she could.

“About seven years ago, my parents died in a car accident. I graduated university but got involved with a guy who liked to beat me up when he drank. My brother came and got me out of there and we moved away. I got a really good, fun job, and it seemed to be going well. Then, sadly, circumstances changed with the company, and layoffs began. I was given a choice, I either had to take this position and make less money, or become unemployed."

“Ew," Elisa said. “I was hoping for something a little happier."

Rhea shrugged, “That's the kind of story you get when you are with me."

Andrew threw an arm around Rhea, “Hey, you'll be okay. I'll make sure of it."

Rhea tensed at the sensation of her coworker's arm on her shoulders and as she grinned nervously and raised her eyes, she saw Mordhas glaring at Andrew. Gently, she shrugged his arm off and changed the subject.

The four friends enjoyed the rest of their night of celebration, only pausing in their laughter when Mordhas and his acquaintances passed by on their way out. Mordhas' dark eyes briefly drifted to Rhea as he slid around their table, and Rhea watched as he left the pub. She turned to see three sets of raised eyebrows.

“You may be our secret lucky charm," Stephen nodded. “Bring us good fortune, oh quiet but mighty, Rhea Thorne of the Merry Otter."

Elisa, Stephen and Andrew raised their glasses to Rhea, who simply rolled her eyes. They stayed a bit longer and luckily Edwin was in the line of taxis outside when they were done.

Rhea slept well that night, so well that she woke up late and had to rush to make it to work on time. She ran down the sidewalk, past the graveyard, up through the cathedral's front courtyard and through the halls to the research area.

With a silent prayer, Rhea burst into the room.

“There you are!" Elisa announced from the end of the table.

Andrew and Stephen looked up from the documents they were reading.

“Okay," Andrew stood up and crossed his arms. “How did you do it?"

“Do what?" Rhea blinked.

Stephen laughed, “Oh, like you don't know."

Rhea stood still looking at her friends. They stared back. Rhea shrugged.

“You really have no clue," Stephen smiled.

“A certain Mr. Mordhas just stopped by this morning to talk to Andre Hoffman about doing some archeological excavation on his land!" Andrew waved his hands.

“We need someone to go check out the potential dig site, lay some markers," Stephen nodded his head towards the window across from the table.

“Oh?" Rhea looked out the window as the room fell into silence. Outside clouds were beginning to form over the cathedral, and by the gate sat a familiar cab.

She turned back to her coworkers, “Are you saying you want me to go?"

“All the stuff is in the backpack by the door," Andrew said offhandedly as he continued to gently examine a dirty document.

“What about an address?" Rhea asked, hoisting the heavy backpack to her shoulder.

It was Stephen who lifted his head and answered, “The cabbie outside says he knows where Mordhas lives."

With a wave and a job ahead of her, Rhea walked to the cab, and was thrilled to see Edwin at the wheel. He drove her through the roads of the city, and soon into the wooded, hilly outskirts. Edwin slowed suddenly and pulled over in front of an open, huge, elegant, black iron gate with low stone walls running along the road.

“Here we are," Edwin stared up the narrow driveway that disappeared over a small rise. “Do you want me to drive you up there, or do you feel like a walk?"

Rhea opened the car door, “Oh, I'll walk. I'll be able to assess the land as I go."

“Alright," Edwin nodded. “Watch the weather though, a storm is headed this way and it's a big one. Want me to wait?"

“No, but thanks," Rhea paused with one hand on the wrought-iron gate. “I don't know how long I'll be."

The lane way up to the house was long and winding. A forest of pine and spruce trees filled and surrounded the property, going right up to the edges of the laneway. As she reached the top of the small rise, Rhea looked back over her shoulder and watched the cab drive away with a sinking feeling in her heart. Shaking off the unwelcome feeling, Rhea continued to follow the scenic laneway.

Coming around the corner, Rhea took in the full sight of the modest, white Mordhas Manor. Dark framed windows and doors stood out starkly on the white stone home. A flower garden ran from the laneway up to the house, separated by a cobblestone walkway. Ivy grew lush and green on one side of the house, and a variety of large climbing roses grew on the other.

After debating whether to knock and announce herself or just begin her work, Rhea glanced at the sky and noted the ever worsening weather. She looked at her instructions and accompanying map and began her work. Following the map to the far side of the Manor, Rhea walked through a wild rose garden, accented with several other types of flowers and small trees.

“Okay. So this flat area here is where we dig," Rhea took out her measuring tape and lost herself in the straight lines and proper measurements. She found she had to fight with the increasing wind.

Clouds were getting darker and the wind was coming in gusts. Rhea placed the last stake and started back down the laneway. She had just reached the small rise before the road when the sky opened up. The rain came pouring down with such force, Rhea was soaked in seconds. The wind whipped the raindrops into stinging little missiles and the poor young woman tried to find shelter in the trees.

“I should have told Edwin to stay," Rhea gritted her teeth. Taking out her cellphone, she tried to dial but realized her phone had become soaked in the steady downpour. She shook the phone, blew on it, pleaded with the almighty powers, and finally shoved it back in her pocket.

With no other protection and the weather getting even worse, Rhea turned around and headed back to the house. She climbed the few steps in front of the black door, and tentatively knocked.

There was movement on the other side of the door, and suddenly it opened halfway.

A red-haired, blue-eyed man stood frowning before her.

“Hello," Rhea shivered. “I'm Rhea Thorne from the archeological company…I was sent to mark where we were going to dig,"

The blue eyes blinked, “What can I do for you, Rhea?"

Thunder crashed above them. Wind blew Rhea off balance and she gripped the wall.

“Can I use your phone?" Rhea asked. “I just need to call for a ride. My phone got wet."

“Let her in," another man, broad and brown-eyed, came to the door. “She's soaked through."

The door swung open and Rhea was ushered inside.