My heart pounded in my ears; I felt sick. I was in the backseat of the car of a thief. My driver, this nice boy, had robbed me of one of the artifacts. I felt completely stupid, mostly because I hadn't even realized it had happened even though he'd been right next to me. Was I really that tired? I had to have been, though it hardly mattered now. We continued through the streets of Athens, me settling back in my seat but unable to relax. I had no idea how I was going to get the blade back from him and back to the museum without him or someone else stopping me. If he noticed my change in demeanor, he didn't show any signs, rather continued on as he had during my first ride from him, speaking about the beauty of the city. I tucked a loose hair behind my ear looking up to catch his gaze in the rearview mirror at the sound of silence, save of course for the traffic around us.

"I'm sorry, what?" I felt my cheeks heat up in embarrassment, clearly, I'd missed something that he'd said. While the situation I found myself in had me on edge, the spike of social anxiety drove me to interact with my assailant despite my better judgement.

"I asked how long you'll be in Athens. I don't mean to pry, but you seem to have packed very light and I worry that you will not have enough time to enjoy our city."

"Two weeks at the very most. I'm here for business, not pleasure." I bit my lip, prying my eyes from his. The warm gaze that had seemed so friendly an hour ago now made me feel exposed and violated. How many people had this kid robbed? Was it regular or had he decided to do it on a whim when he saw what I had? No…It had to have been normal. Tired or not I hadn't noticed a change in demeanor, him taking the strange kopis…I didn't even hear him open the latches on the case! I could only assume he wore the same kind expression for everyone who got in his cab. For everyone he thieved.

"Ah, nonsense! You're in Hellas now. There's easily room for both with the right people!" A grin stretched across his face, accentuating his dimples. "Come! My brother owns a small place, but very nice! We will welcome you to Greece the right way!"

"I…" I gripped the edge of my seat, looking up to lock eyes again but his were back on the road. I was already pushing my luck getting back in the car with this guy. Didn't American police always say not to let a criminal take you to a second location? There was no way in hell I was going to, "I think that sounds like fun…Can we drop my bags off at my hotel first though?"

God…I was crazy.

"Physiká! You won't regret it. My sister in law, she makes the best souvlaki this side of the Aegean…Oh and her lokma…Like ambrosia on the tongue!"

I nodded, giving him a small smile as he boasted about his family and their talents. How they'd show me real Greek hospitality. He almost reminded me of a kid, getting animated as he got excited to "awaken my inner traveler" as he put it. Had I not already seen proof of his deception; it would have been easy to forget why I was back in his cab in the first place. I got out of the cab when we reached the Hotel Xenia, where he continued to talk until, I got out of the car, promising to wait until I came back. Now away from his infectious merriment, I felt numb. Numb as I checked in, numb as the small elevator took me to my floor, numb as I paused in the entrance of the simple hotel room. Shit…What had I just agreed to?

For a brief moment, I contemplated staying put. Sure, he'd promised to wait but after a few hours he had to leave…right? Was my potential safety worth an old knife? The smart…answer was no. The sane answer was HELL no. But a little voice in the back of my head that sounded suspiciously like Harrison Ford said, "IT BELONGS IN A MUSEUM!" Grandpa would have killed me. I set my bag on the generic hotel bed, fishing out my phone to slip the key card to my room in the wallet that doubled as a cover for my phone case, putting it in my back pocket. I didn't want to carry much with me, just in case. Who knows what I could potentially lose around this guy? What kind of family raises a thief!? My God I was going day drinking with a criminal…did my hair look this bad in the cab? I ran my hand though my hair a few times to fix my part brushing it out with my fingers…I'd be ok…I could do this…What if I couldn't? I wasn't Lara Croft. I wasn't Indiana Jones. I was just…me. This was reality. I was putting myself in danger for an inanimate object that already wasn't mine to keep since I'd promised Dr. Aetós…It belonged in the museum…Not with me, not with a private collector, not with a street thief. I took a deep breath steeling my gaze as I looked in the mirror at my own eyes. I had to get it back. Without giving myself time to change my mind, I turned on my heel and marched out of my room, closing the door behind me.

-

The word small, had clearly been an attempt at humility. My driver-I really should have asked his name by now…huh…- had stopped at what had looked like an alley, further sending the feeling to flee through me as he'd led me between to buildings but what had stopped me was an amazing courtyard decked out with iron patio furniture, strands of lights-off since it was still light out, with fountains lining the brick walls, save for a break for a set of glass doors with a sign above it that read 'Oinopoieío tou Iákchou' in black print on a white background. Overall, really nice for a place I'd had to have gone through an alley for. Many tables were already occupied and the smell of the food sent pain through my stomach in hunger…When was the last time I'd eaten?

"Mikró aderfó, eímaste edó!" My guide called out, prompting a woman to push open the door, with a bright smile, rushing over to wrap her arms around him, a man following close behind her. I could only assume this was his brother and sister in law and for a brief moment, I regretted dropping my Modern Greek language course.

"Ermís! Echei perásei polýs kairós!" His brother grinned and immediately I saw the resemblance in the pair; that smile, that dimple…they were a dead give away though if you had put them in a crowd together I may have not been able to tell that they were brothers. They shared the same olive skin, but the cabbie's brother had much darker hair with steely grey eyes. His wife was a pretty lady with darker still curls and eyes that were an odd shade of green. Upon her noticing me she immediately brought me into a warm hug which, thanks to curves that outshined my own, only reminded me of my short stature and sent me into embarrassed silence.

"Xéreis óti eímai apascholiménos. Akómi kai tóra…Ariádni, áse tin na fýgei. Eínai ávola." I had no idea what he'd said but it only made her hug me tighter.

"Ase me ísycho. Ítan gia pánta." I looked between the three of them, awkwardly returning her hug.

"Um…I'm told you're an excellent cook…Forgive me but I'm afraid I can't speak Greek." I blushed as their attention was turned to me and immediately, I felt smaller.

"O! Physiká! How rude of us to go on. It's a pleasure to meet you!" she beamed, "You three just wait right here and I'll go fix us something.~"

Finally letting me go, she left us to return inside, and leaving me wishing she hadn't left. Even though she was taller than me, that was normal. Everyone was. But the brothers were taller than her at what had to be six feet or taller and while they seemed nice enough, it was rather imposing. I couldn't forget why I was here.

"My brother tells me you are looking for some fun in the city. You've come to the right place!" I'd no idea how grey eyes could look warm but somehow this guy had managed it. "Athens has many wonderful things if you know how to find them and even more if you drink before looking! You never know what you might find!"

"Heh…Um…Isn't it a bit early?"

The brothers shared a look, the newer looking slightly appalled and leaving me wondering how badly I'd just offended them. Luckily, I didn't have to find out. Because my driver shrugged with a simple "Amerikanós." And the offence seemed to be forgotten, though I made a mental note to try to not fuck up again. I was in a foreign country…and these people had graciously invited me. It was only right that I adhere to their customs…even if I planed to high tail it out of there as soon as I got the artifact back.

"Don't you worry about that! Just enough to wet the tongue. We won't get you into any trouble that would upset your husband!"

"I...I'm only twenty. I'm not even dating right now…Frankly…I'm not much of a people person…"

"Malakíes! Your father then! But you simply must try our house brand. The grapes are from Chios. I guarantee you'll never find better."

I didn't feel like spilling my life story to these people so I just nodded slightly. I'd taste to be polite but I'd never had much of a stomach for alcohol. And the last thing I needed was to hinder my senses around the guy who'd stolen from me…Still…the food smelled divine and with this many people around, surely nothing else would happen…right?