“I’ve found him,” Tom King reported to his boss, his gaze on the pictures of a handsome Turkish man walking into Koç University in Istanbul. “He is an archeologist, who teaches ancient world history at the university.”
“I don’t need to know his career. What is his name? Where does he live?”
“His name is Dante Arturo. I apologize. We are still trying to work out his family’s history. We’re only able to find his professional credentials. His primary address is an apartment close to the university. However, he does visit the United States often.”
“Why?”
Tom paused, sifting through the documents on his desk.
“Our investigator has pictures of a modest house in a suburban area. Uh, the address listed is in Kirtland, Ohio. I’ll forward it to you.”
“Thank you, Tom.”
“When are you returning home?” Tom asked. “Hera has asked about you. You have not called in for a month. Hera worries so does your uncle.”
“I’m…I’m trying to make a decision. Forward me his picture and his address in Istanbul. Thank you, Tom.”
“You’re welcome, Babu.”
*~*~*~*
“What a morning,” Nora said, shaking her head, as she read the heavy book standing open on a large desk in their basement. “We find corrupt soil in the olive grove, and the house opens the grimoire to a warning. We’re having a sinister day. Are you sure you should fly out today?”
“Don’t be so pessimistic,” Dante said, moving to stand next to his mother.
He brushed a kiss on her cheek and brought his attention to the warning she was reading.
“The Artri heir’s betrayal of Ryuzo wins Ryuzo a lifetime of hardship and pain. The right choice shall break the cycle,” Dante read the warning aloud. “This symbol, a compound elder leaf with five leaflets, is familiar. The Grandmaster made me memorize the list of families with power. I have seen it with two families like ours. Their symbols are usually a compound elder leaf with three or two leaflets, not five. The warning continues, ‘Pass this warning down generations. There are only two left. If we skip one, the second one must make the right choice.’ End of warning.”
Dante traced a finger over the old blue silk fabric holding the words embroidered in white. It was sewn into the grimoire for safekeeping. Dante had never seen the silk page in the grimoire before. Then again, this was usual of spells hidden by very powerful family members.
“The use of the name Artri meant the person who gave the warning existed in the early nineteenth century,” Nora said. “Our ancestors used Artri as a last name then. It was the sole reason why the family home is named Artri. We changed to Arturo in the early nineteen twenties.”
“I’m not married,” Dante said, meeting Nora’s gaze. “I have children, yes, but Zach has no power. How is this warning for me?”
“The warning is for me,” Nora said. “You’re my first-born son. The one with the power. Your choice is what is supposed to be the right one.”
“Right choice for what?” Dante asked. “Who is this Ryuzo who faces a lifetime of hardship?”
“I don’t know,” Nora said, her tone thoughtful. “However, if a warning has appeared in our Artri grimoire, it means you will meet him soon. What is of interest, Dante, is the type of choice that makes this warning relevant. Enough for our house to shake and tremble to let you know this choice is important.”
Dante frowned, tracing the first part of the warning with his index finger.
“Artri heir’s betrayal of Ryuzo,” Dante read. “Seems my past has hurt someone, enough for it to be considered a betrayal. The only person I have betrayed is Viola, Mom. I could not give her the love she gave me.”
“I know,” Nora said, letting out a soft sigh. “We’ll figure it out.”
Dante’s phone buzzed and he reached for it from his pocket. He found a message from his friend, asking if he had arrived at the Elderwood Conservancy.
“You should go,” Nora said. “Take the samples. I’ll check out our historical records and find out who Ryuzo is, and why our house has betrayed him before.”
Glancing at the time on his phone, Dante sighed. His lecture was in two hours. He needed to make a move if he was to get to the conservancy, then take the ferry to the mainland. It was going to be a busy Thursday.
“I’ll be back by Tuesday.”
“Alright,” Nora said. “Be careful, Dante.”
“I will, Mom.”
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