Descent (Black Heart Romance presents Heaven & Hell)

being a secret art thief, but for what this night must have cost, you better steal something more
valuable than an old bead.”
“Oh, I intend to,” he murmurs as he passes behind me to look at the next display.
I try not to think about that too hard as we continue on, exploring reliefs and sculptures, ceiling
paintings and pieces of tombs—priceless works of art and pieces of history.
Out of all the parts of the museum he could’ve taken me through tonight, it’s funny that he picked
the part I’ve always enjoyed the most. I know it’s a coincidence—there’s no way he could have
known I ever had an interest in Egyptian art—but it’s crazy how perfect his choice was.
“Which piece did you like most?” Calvin asks me as we walk out of the last exhibit.
“It’s a bit pedestrian,” I warn him, “but I think William the hippo is my favorite. The first time I
saw that little blue hippo I loved him, and I still do. If I were an art thief, I would steal William.”
“Pretty famous piece,” he tells me. “Might be hard to fence.”
“I wouldn’t sell it,” I say, my eyes widening. “I’d keep him for myself. Put him on my dresser or
something so I can see him every day.”
Calvin shakes his head at me. “Of course you would.”
“I don’t think I could ever be an art thief, though. These pieces are meant to be seen and enjoyed
by many, not stashed on a shelf in some rich person’s house.”
“An art lover who doesn’t aspire to own any actual art?” he asks cocking an eyebrow.
“I can own all the art I want, but I’m fine with copies. I don’t need to own the originals.”
Shaking his head, Calvin remarks, “We are very different people.”
Finally, after exploring all the rest, we get to the piece de resistance—the Temple of Dendur. An
actual Egyptian temple brought to the states piece by piece and reconstructed in this room built just to
display it. The room is massive with a whole wall of windows so people in Central Park can see the
temple without even coming in.
It doesn’t look the way it does during the day when museum-goers come to see it, though. The
room is dimly lit since it’s evening, and uplighting casts a golden glow on the ancient structure
As we walk around the serenity pool and nearer to the temple, I see another man waiting for us
by the stairs. Not the security guard, but a man in black slacks and a white dress shirt. He almost
looks like a waiter.
When he sees us coming, he walks over to a table set up in front of the temple. It’s a table for
two with candlelight and rose petals spread out across the gold table cloth. There are two crystal
goblets of water and two empty goblets which the waiter fills with wine as we approach. There are
two place settings. Folded linen napkins sit atop gold chargers with gold eating utensils on either
side.