They reached the museum a little over half an hour later.
Ivan parked behind the building.
It was nearly midnight, and Thalia was still asleep in the passenger seat.
She hadn’t woken when the car stopped.
He unfastened his seat belt.
“I’ll carry her in.”
The back door opened before he could get out.
Acheron came around to the passenger side.
“I’ll take her.”
Ivan got out too.
“She’s my sister.”
“I know.”
Acheron opened Thalia’s door and carefully lifted her from the seat.
Even so, she stirred and opened her eyes a little.
“Are we there?”
“Yes,” he said quietly.
She didn’t seem fully awake.
Without looking around, she settled against him.
“Then I’ll sleep a little longer…”
Her eyes closed again.
Ivan held out his arms.
“Give her to me.”
“She’s asleep,” Acheron said.
“I can see that.”
“Let her sleep.”
Ivan took a breath but didn’t argue further.
He went ahead and unlocked the museum’s back door.
The night lights were off.
As they made their way down the corridor, the motion sensors brought the ceiling lights on one by one.
Ivan led them towards the records room.
Once Thalia was settled, they could check the things they had brought back from Eremon Manor.
As they passed the glass display case outside, Acheron stopped.
The ring on Thalia’s left hand had flashed faintly.
She slept through it, but he looked down at once.
“What is it?” Ivan asked.
Acheron didn’t answer.
He was looking at the old collection room at the far end of the corridor.
The door was shut, and the room was dark.
Ivan followed his gaze but saw nothing unusual.
Then he noticed Acheron was watching Thalia’s ring.
It was growing warm.
“Has anyone been in that room?” Acheron asked.
“No.
We haven’t used it in six months.”
“Not tonight?”
“I’m sure.” Ivan looked back at the door.
“Why?”
The ring kept reacting.
Acheron had seen it warn Thalia about the Gravekeepers, and he had seen it respond to the metal plaque.
This was different from both.
He took a few steps towards the old collection room, still carrying Thalia.
She frowned and caught at the front of his coat.
Her eyes remained closed.
“…Someone’s there,” she murmured.
Ivan turned to her.
“Thalia?”
She didn’t answer.
Her breathing was steady, and she appeared to be asleep.
Acheron stopped and held her securely.
He was still watching the door when a faint sound came from inside the room.
Click.
Ivan looked up.
No one had used the room in months, and the door had been locked.
Now its handle was turning, slowly and quietly.
Someone was on the other side, opening it.