Chasing Destiny [SYTYCW15]

Berlin, 1941

The muffled voices coming from the next room kept Alexis from falling asleep in the tangled sheets. She remained still and kept her breathing slow in an effort to better hear the two men in the next room. Himmler was vigilant when it came to not speaking in front of Alexis, but there were times when he was more lax than usual. He talked more freely when he thought she couldn't hear and she made every effort to take advantage of those times.

"Our troops continue to move into Italy," an unfamiliar voice said in German. Alexis had the past two years to brush the rust off of her German and now she could understand and speak it with ease. She hadn't spoken or heard the language since the first World War. "A spear is rumored to be in the Vatican. Mussolini is cooperating with our search, though he is not aware of what we are searching for."

"Good. Acquiring the spear is our number one priority at the moment," Himmler replied. Heinrich Himmler was the leader of the SS and her lover. Lover was too strong a word. She didn't love him in the slightest. In fact, she despised him and the whole Nazi party. Sex was a useful tool to get information and one she didn't mind using even if it meant sleeping with the enemy. She may regret sleeping with Himmler for the next century or two, but it was worth it if it helped the Allies win the war. A good portion of Europe suffered at the hands of the Nazis and the rest of Europe, and possibly the world, would fall under Nazi control if they weren't stopped.

Alexis was born with a different name over twenty four hundred years ago in a town long since lost in history. She grew up in the shadow of the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, one of the seven wonders of the world, and had lived to see the legions of Rome conquer the Mediterranean under the Republic and the Empire. The Germanic tribes conquered Roman lands and Hittites under Attila stormed east from western Asia and made Europe tremble. She had seen the savagery of Genghis Khan's armies sweep across Asia from the Pacific to the Middle East, now it was the Nazis.

Alexis took the position of Himmler's secretary when Hedwig Potthast left. It took a few months to get into his bed, but the payoff in information was worth the sacrifices she made. Being by his side gave her access to information the Allies could use in their fight against this evil. She played the good little Nazi and was paid in valuable information she passed along to Allied contacts. Even in the heart of Berlin, there were people who opposed the Nazi regime.

"It's said the spear holds unimaginable power and can shape the fate of the world," Himmler continued. "I am confident the Ahnenerbe will find it. It's imperative we have the spear even if we have to bring every spear we find back to Germany."

Her stomach bottomed out and sank to her feet. This could be disastrous if they were talking about what she thought they were talking about. The last thing the world needed was the Nazis getting their hands on the Spear of Destiny, bu they couldn't be talking about any other spear. Alexis knew what the spear could do and keeping it out of Nazi hands became her priority. Intelligence for the Allies would have to wait or be left up to others.

"Understood, sir," the second voice said. "What about the spear from Vienna?"

"I don't believe it's the true spear. Something so powerful, so important, would not be kept in such an obvious place."

"The Fuhrer thinks it is the true spear."

Silence reigned for a moment and for a moment Alexis thought they had somehow heard her and were listening for her to make any kind of noise. "It is not." The certainty in Himmler's voice sent a chill racing down Alexis' spine. Did he know more than he was letting on?

"Herr Holtz believes the spear is elsewhere."

Himmler was quiet for a long moment before he spoke. Alexis could hear blood pounding in her ears and feel her heart racing in her chest. "Herr Holtz will take as many troops as he needs. I want any spear rumored to be the true spear brought to Wewelsburg."