Chapter One

Carissa held the flaming torch in front of her as she crept forward, ever deeper into the narrow tunnel. The men who led her to the entrance refused to accompany her inside. It took a large portion of the money Lady Sophia gave her to convince them just to bring her here. But no matter the offer of compensation, they would not come inside with her.

Now she knew why.

Cold currents of air wafted over her, causing goose bumps to tingle along her arms. She shivered as the constant sound of dripping water played across her tightly stretched nerves. Wet spots spread over her shirt and pants as she walked beneath the trickles of water. Worst of all, the smell of rot, dampness, and mold reminded her of things long dead and best left buried. Oh, how she wished this had not been her ancestral duty. Raised to be of service and fulfill the assignments of her coven, Carissa had given up most things a young woman craves. She had never attended a prom or been on a date, never joined friends for a picnic or a sports game, and never felt the caress of a lover's hand in the dark of night.

One would think I'm a nun who took a vow of chastity to an order. Carissa vowed to herself that if she got back out of this hole, she would do things differently from now on. She pushed away the unusual thoughts and took a steadying breath, fighting the panic the enclosing earth and the overwhelming stench magnified to the point where she wanted to scream.

She must continue. Carissa dared not go back empty handed or her ancestors would curse her for all time. Pandora's last living relative, Lady Sophia, entrusted her with the knowledge to retrieve the precious treasure. Retrieve it she would, or perish in the attempt. The latter was looking more and more a distinct possibility, come to think of it.

A gasp escaped Carissa as a small creature scampered across her foot and she lurched to one side. The torch ignited a cluster of silken spider webs hanging from the arched dirt over her head. She threw up her arm to protect her face from the flames and backed away. The bright flicker of fire quickly died, leaving the cave appearing even darker than before. After drawing in several ragged breaths, Carissa continued, inching forward one tiny step at a time. Where is Indiana Jones when you need him?

Stepping carefully around a pile of fallen rocks, Carissa located the narrow course of steps carved into the tunnel floor. They were just as described. Carissa's heart jumped into her throat at the realization that she would be able to complete her quest. One cautious step at a time, Carissa descended into the lower regions of the earth. Like going into the bowels of a great sleeping monster, she couldn't help thinking as a shudder wracked her slim figure.