Gift of Fire

time Verity glanced over she was partially blinded by Elyssa’s gleaming rings and exotic bracelets.
    Elyssa did not announce her surprise entertainment for the evening until after dinner.
    “Now, then,” she said as she led the group back into the salon. “I hope you’re all in the mood for a special treat. Preston has offered to guide us in a psychic-clarity session. We thought it would be a wonderful way to help Jonas begin his search for the treasure.”
    Doug groaned. “Sorry, Jonas. I didn’t know they were going to pull this. Feel free to opt out.”
    “What the hell’s a psychic-clarity session?” Jonas asked warily.
    “A session in which we all try to unite our individual energies into a single force that is capable of lifting all of us onto a higher plane. Once we are on that higher level we can communicate far more clearly and intuitively. It’s very effective for relaxing and opening up the mind. I’m sure you’ll find it helpful.”
    “Sounds like bullshit to me,” Jonas said politely.
    Verity groaned and poked Jonas in the ribs with the handle of her cane. “This is business, Jonas,” she muttered. “Behave yourself.”
    Jonas massaged his ribs and smiled dangerously at her for a second. “I’ll tell you what. You folks go ahead with your session while I have a look around the villa.”
    “Oh, you really must join us, Jonas.” Elyssa’s eyes were beseeching. “The sessions are so stimulating. Sometimes I’m able to contact Saranantha. I’m becoming a channeler for her, you know,” she added modestly. “I’ve just started picking up on her recently, but I’m getting better at communicating with her.”
    Verity heard Slade Spencer snicker faintly, and she knew that Jonas was having a hard time keeping his mouth shut. It was time for another shot of diplomacy.
    “I didn’t know you were a channeler,” Verity said quickly. “Who is Saranantha?”
    It was Preston Yarwood who answered the question. He gazed fondly at Elyssa. “Saranantha appears to be a high-ranking temple priestess from a land called Utilan. From what we can tell so far, Utilan may have been a lost colony of Atlantis. Elyssa has only recently established contact, so we still have much to learn.”
    Doug waved Jonas toward the hall. “I don’t blame you one bit for wanting out of this nonsense. Go have a look around. We’ll play Elyssa’s little parlor game here while you’re out getting your bearings. Watch your step, and stay in the south wing until tomorrow. I think I mentioned that the other three wings were never wired for electricity. You start wandering around in there and you might never come back out.” Doug laughed.
    Jonas nodded and took Verity aside. “You stay with the group,” he said in a low voice. “I want to check out a few things I read about in the diary, and I don’t want any of these turkeys around when I do it.”
    Verity was startled. “Is this something that might take you into the time corridor? You can’t risk that alone. You’ll need me.”
    “Relax. I’m not stupid. I won’t risk anything like that alone. I just want to look around.”
    “Be careful,” she whispered anxiously.
    He grinned. “You’re the one who’d better be careful. Getting elevated to a higher plane of consciousness sounds like dangerous business.”
    “I don’t believe this,” Verity muttered. “The only person in the whole group who’s actually got some real psychic ability and he’s not interested in participating in a genuine psychic-clarity session. Spoilsport.”
    “I played enough psychic games back in the lab of the Department of Paranormal Research at Vincent College,” Jonas said grimly. “I don’t like them.” He dropped a small kiss on Verity’s forehead. “Besides, what makes you think there’s only one person with genuine psychic talent here?”
    Verity’s eyes widened. “You think one of the others in there has real talent?”
    He rallied her coppery curls with an affectionate hand. “I was talking about you, you little idiot. I don’t make those trips into the time tunnel alone. Have fun. I’ll see you later.”
    Verity stared after him for a long moment before she walked slowly back into the salon. It was strange, but she’d never thought of herself as having any psychic ability. As far as she was concerned, the talent belonged to Jonas. She just sort of helped him control it.

 
    Chapter Five
     
    Jonas walked through the halls of the old villa,