The Vault's Secret

The air in the café felt heavier as Dr. Evelyn Laurent's words settled between them.

The Vault of the Revenant was real.

Emma leaned forward, her fingers still resting on the amulet. "How do you know it's real?"

Evelyn took a slow sip of her espresso, her sharp blue eyes locking onto Emma's. "Because I spent twenty years searching for it."

Marcus cursed in their earpieces. "And you didn't think to tell anyone?"

Evelyn smirked. "Governments, collectors, and thieves have spent centuries chasing myths. I wasn't about to give them a reason to start a war over it."

Alexander folded his arms. "Too late for that."

Evelyn sighed. "Tell me—how did Lucien find out about the amulet?"

Emma exchanged a glance with Alexander. "We don't know. But he was willing to steal it from a U.S. senator, so whatever he believes is inside that vault must be worth the risk."

Evelyn's gaze darkened. "Then he's either after the artifacts inside… or something much worse."

Emma frowned. "Worse?"

Evelyn leaned back, choosing her words carefully. "The Revenant weren't just collectors of rare objects. They protected things that should never be found. If this amulet is truly a key, then it doesn't just open a vault. It locks something inside."

A heavy silence fell over the table.

Marcus spoke through the earpiece, his voice tight. "So… we might have just stolen the key to a prison, not a treasure room?"

Evelyn nodded. "Exactly."

Emma's mind raced. If the amulet wasn't just a key, but a seal, then whatever was inside the vault might not just be valuable—it might be dangerous.

Alexander tapped a finger against the table. "How do we find it before Lucien does?"

Evelyn hesitated. "There's only one place left with records of the Revenant's last stronghold."

Emma tensed. "Where?"

Evelyn's lips curled into a grim smile.

"The Vatican Archives."

---

Breaking Into the Vatican

That night, back at their safe house, Emma, Alexander, and Marcus gathered around a digital blueprint of Vatican City.

Marcus shook his head. "I hate this plan already."

Alexander smirked. "That's how you know it's a good one."

Emma scanned the layout. "The Secret Archives are underground, beneath St. Peter's Basilica. That means security is… excessive."

Marcus exhaled. "Yeah. Try biometric scans, motion detectors, Vatican SWAT teams, and, oh yeah, the Pope himself."

Emma grinned. "We've handled worse."

Marcus groaned. "You say that every time."

Alexander leaned forward. "We'll need a diversion."

Emma nodded. "And a way out before they even know we're inside."

Marcus muttered, "So, just a casual break-in into one of the most secure locations in the world."

Alexander smirked. "Exactly."

---

The Heist Begins

The next night, Emma stood on the rooftop of a nearby building, dressed in an all-black infiltration suit. Below her, the Vatican loomed in the moonlight, centuries of secrets hidden within its walls.

Alexander's voice came through her earpiece. "Ready?"

Emma smirked. "Always."

Marcus's voice followed. "Security cameras are looped. You have six minutes."

Emma rappelled down, her feet landing softly on the marble balcony of the Apostolic Palace.

Alexander landed beside her. "We're in."

Moving quickly, they slipped inside, navigating through dimly lit corridors.

They reached a massive, iron-reinforced door at the end of a hallway.

Emma pulled out a hacking device, attaching it to the lock. The small screen flickered as it worked.

Marcus's voice was tense. "Hurry. You've got company."

Emma's heart pounded as the door clicked open. "We're in."

The Secret Archives stretched before them—rows of ancient tomes, scrolls, and relics preserved in glass cases.

Alexander scanned the shelves. "We need records on the Revenant."

Emma moved quickly, scanning labels. Her fingers brushed against an old leather-bound book with a golden insignia.

She opened it, eyes widening.

"The Vault's location—it's encoded in this."

Alexander took one look at it and nodded. "Then let's move."

Before they could take another step, a siren blared.

Marcus cursed. "They know you're there! Move, now!"

Footsteps thundered down the halls.

Emma clutched the book. "Time for Plan B."

Alexander smirked. "I love Plan B."

---

Escape and Revelation

Explosions rocked the outer walls as pre-set charges detonated, creating chaos.

Smoke filled the halls as Emma and Alexander sprinted toward their exit route.

Guards shouted, weapons drawn, but the smoke gave them the cover they needed.

Emma launched a grappling hook, securing it to the balcony above.

"Go!" Alexander ordered.

Emma ascended first, flipping over the edge. Alexander followed, landing beside her as bullets ricocheted off the stone walls.

The moment they reached the rooftop, Marcus's getaway chopper swooped down.

Emma grabbed Alexander's hand, and they leapt onto the helicopter's landing skids.

As they soared into the night, Marcus's voice came through the headset. "Please tell me you got something."

Emma held up the book, grinning. "We got everything."

Marcus exhaled. "Next stop?"

Alexander smirked. "We follow the map."

Emma opened the book, scanning the old text. Her smile faded.

"This doesn't just lead to the vault," she murmured. "It leads to something buried beneath it."

Alexander's eyes darkened. "What kind of something?"

Emma swallowed hard.

"The kind that should have stayed lost."