“The scent of perfume,” said Enrique.
“Scent is irrelevant to this,” said Zofia, turning back toward the other table.
“But thecontext… the context makes the difference,” said Enrique. “The word ‘perfume’ comes from the Latinperfumare…to smoke through. Scent was a medium through which the ancients communicated to the gods.”
Enrique pointed at the objects strewn on the table.
“Séverin was the one who explained how the whole place was designed like a temple, even their… their sacrifice altar,” he said, shuddering. “My guess is they would have only used incense for their most precious objects, especially whatever was insideThe Divine Lyrics, which makes me think we should look through whatever is here before we try elsewhere.”
Zofia stared at the table, then stared at him. “How did you come to that conclusion?”
Enrique grinned at her. “Oh, you know… superstitions, stories.” He paused. “A gut instinct.”
He’d said something like that to her before, and it annoyed her no less than it did now.
Zofia reached for a new object. They had only just examinedthe first two objects—a goblet and a cornucopia—when a gong sounded from outside. Enrique looked up, his eyes narrowing.
“This isn’t good,” he said. “We don’t have much time before the auctioneer starts coming in and taking away the objects for sale, and I want to take a look inside the grotto and the leviathan once more.”
“Why?”
“It’s this symbol…”
Enrique picked up his notebook, tracing the sign once more.
“Now that we know what we’re looking for, I just want to make sure we haven’t missed any hints.”
Zofia frowned. They wouldn’t have enough time to go to the leviathan, search the premises, and return. One of them needed to go alone. One of them needed to try and buy more time.
The thought of venturing into that crowd turned Zofia’s stomach.
But it was nothing compared to the thought of losing Laila.
Zofia stood straighter and felt the heavy, unopened envelope pressing against her chest. She had not recognized the envelope seal, and the penmanship did not look like Hela’s. The unfamiliarity of it filled her with a strange unease that she couldn’t name, stopping her hand each time she gathered the courage to read it.
Beside her, Enrique was talking to himself.
“If we could get Hypnos to come back, we could go, but he hates being left alone, and we can’t ask Laila… she’s been lying down and the sight of this will only upset her… and I haveno idea where Séverin is… Ruslan could do it, but Séverin usually approves who knows what and how much time would we lose if—”
“I can go alone.”
Enrique’s gaze snapped to hers. For a second, Zofia barely registered that she had uttered such a thing. But the moment it was said, it calmed her.
“No, I couldn’t ask you to do that,” said Enrique. “I know how hard new situations can be for you. I’ll go.”
The words struck Zofia. She remembered Hela’s earlier letters:Oh, don’t make them worry, Zosia. They might start fretting over who would have to take care of you when I’m gone.
She was not a child who needed constant minding.
“I will go alone. You are better suited here.”
Enrique held her gaze only a moment longer, and then nodded. “I’m certain the grotto will be empty. All you have to do is a quick search for the lemniscate symbol. If you can, on the way, try and buy us time? I’ll work as fast as I can and join you as soon as I have something.”
Zofia nodded and headed for the door. But just as she reached for the handle, Enrique called out to her:
“Phoenix?”
She turned and saw Enrique leaning against one of the tables, an object in one hand, a notebook tucked under his other arm. When he smiled, Zofia noticed the left corner of his lips quirked higher than the right. She liked that detail despite its asymmetry. Hypnos must like that detail too, she thought, remembering how he had kissed him right before they searched the leviathan. An uncomfortable pang hit her stomach.
