Burning Lamp by Amanda Quick Read Free Book Online Page A

Lamp.”
    “Is that what it is called? Now that you mention it, I suppose it does resemble certain ancient oil lamps. But it is not made of alabaster in the Egyptian manner.”
    “How did you know that it belonged to me?”
    “I didn’t know it. Not until I met you a few minutes ago. It sounds impossible, but the artifact is infused with a formidable quantity of dreamlight. The patterns of the energy trapped in the lamp are nearly identical to your own. There are dreamprints on the device as well that are clearly from a man of your bloodline.”
    He could not believe his good fortune. He had come here today hoping to persuade her to help him search for the lamp. The possibility that she already had it in her possession left him feeling first light-headed and then—predictably enough given his nature—suspicious.
    “How long have you had it?” he asked evenly, as though merely curious.
    “I was fifteen when I acquired it.”
    Something in the very cool way she spoke told him that he was not going to get a complete answer to that question, not yet.
    “How did it come into your possession?” he asked.
    “I don’t think that matters now,” she said.
    One thing at a time, he told himself. He could wait. The first step was to make certain that she possessed the real Burning Lamp.
    “You mentioned that the artifact was not particularly attractive,” he said. “I’m surprised you kept it around all these years.”
    “It has been a great nuisance, I assure you.”
    “Why is that?” He realized that he was still searching for the flaw in what appeared to be an incredible turn of luck.
    “It took up valuable space in my luggage during my travels in America, for one thing,” she said. “But the more serious problem is that the energy it gives off is quite disturbing, even to those who do not possess much talent. It is certainly not the sort of ornament that one wants sitting on the mantel. To be honest, I shall be delighted to get rid of it. And so will Mrs. Trevelyan.”
    “Who is she?”
    “My housekeeper. She does not have any psychical ability, at least no more so than the average person, but just being in the presence of the lamp makes her anxious and uneasy. She is the one who banished it to the attic.”
    A torrent of questions flooded his mind. But one stood out.
    “If you found the thing so disturbing, why did you keep it?” he asked.
    “I have no idea.” She glanced at the vessel displayed on the pedestal. “But you know how it is with paranormal artifacts of any sort. They hold a certain fascination, especially for those of us with some talent. And, as I told you, there is no question but that the lamp is infused with dreamlight. I have an affinity for that sort of energy. I simply could not let it go.”
    He exhaled slowly, still trying to dampen his sense of overwhelming relief. It seemed that the lamp had been found and he was standing in front of the woman who might be able to work it for him. But there was still the very real possibility that Adelaide Pyne might not be strong enough to manipulate the dangerous energies that Nicholas had locked inside the lamp.
    There were other, equally unpleasant but plausible outcomes even if it transpired that Adelaide was sufficiently powerful. She might inadvertently or even deliberately murder him with the lamp’s radiation. Short of that, she could destroy his talent, intentionally or otherwise.
    Last, but by no means least, the lady might simply refuse to work the lamp for him because she did not approve of crime lords. But she was the one who had offered to bargain, he reminded himself. Evidently he had something she wanted. That gave him an edge. Once he knew what another person desired he could control the situation.
    “It would appear that we are going to do business together, Mrs. Pyne,” he said. “Allow me to introduce myself properly.”
    He lowered his talent and sank back into his normal senses, letting her see him clearly for the first