Page 4 of Dark Shaman: Love Found
There must be a tunnel that leads from his house to the harem, and it has to be big enough for a vehicle because there was no way Navuh was walking several kilometers each way every day. And if there was a tunnel, there was also a hidden passage leading to it directly from his rooms.
"I miss the harem," Beulah said. "At least there, we knew every corner. Every hidden nook."
"Spoken like someone who's forgotten what it's like to live underground." Sarah laughed.
They all understood the irony; they'd spent centuries dreaming of escape, and now all they wanted was to go back to their familiar cage.
As Areana emerged from the house, the gardeners seemed to track her movements. Two of them immediately changed positions so they could be closer to the fountain.
"Hello, my dears," Areana said as she joined them. "I hope you're finding some comfort out here."
"As much comfort as one can find while being slowly roasted," Rolenna said. "There is barely any shade out here. I miss our gazebo in the harem."
"When do you think we'll be able to return?" Sarah asked.
Areana sighed. "Nothing has changed since we had the same discussion over breakfast. They are still pumping out the water, and once that's done, they'll need to assess the structural damage and begin repairs. Lord Navuh estimates a few weeks, perhaps a month."
A month seemed like an eternity, which was ironic coming from a female who had lived for thousands of years.
"Have you heard anything from the hotel?" Tula asked suddenly. It was the first time she'd spoken since they'd gathered around the fountain. "How are the servants managing?"
"They're enjoying a wonderful vacation," Areana assured her. "The hotel is a serious upgrade from their accommodations in the harem, and they don't have to do anything. They can spend their days on the beach if they want."
"Can we do that?" Tamira asked. "I don't remember how it feels to dip my toes in the sand or the ocean, and given that we live on an island, that kind of sums up our limited existence here. It would be nice to feel like normal people again." She snorted. "Not that I remember what that's like either."
"Yeah. Me neither," Tula said.
Areana's gaze flickered to her, and there was sympathy in her expression. There was definitely something going on beyond Tula missing Tony. Something that the rest of them weren't privy to.
"I miss my books," Sarah said with a sigh. "I had just received a new shipment before the flood. Texts on quantum mechanics that I was eager to dive into."
"Your books are likely ruined," Liliat pointed out. "Water and paper don't mix well."
"Don't remind me," Sarah groaned. "Thousands of years of collecting most likely destroyed. All those irreplaceable ancient scrolls gone."
"Not necessarily," Areana said. "The water might not have reached the library. We will know more on Monday. Perhaps I can even arrange a visit to the site."
That got everyone's attention, and even Tula seemed encouraged. "If the water didn't reach the library, our rooms might be okay to move back into."
Areana cast her a sad glance. "Even if that's true, the air-conditioning and other systems are offline. We can't move back until all of that is fixed."
"We should be thankful that we're all safe," Beulah said, ever the voice of reason. "And so is everyone else. Things can be replaced. Lives cannot."
"We would have been fine." Tula dipped her hand in the water. "We are immortal. But I am thankful for the lives of all the servants that got spared, and not thanks to our lord. He valued possessions more than lives, but then that shouldn't come as a surprise." She looked at Areana. "No offense, my lady, but I'm just saying things the way they are."
Areana nodded. "I know. We all have our good and bad sides." She rose to her feet. "Would you walk with me, Tula? I think some movement might do you good."
"Yeah, you are right." Tula rose. "Nothing will make me feel better than circling round the backyard of our jailer like prisoners do in movies."
Tamira watched them head toward the walkway, Areana's hand resting lightly on Tula's back.
"She's been acting so strange lately," Rolenna murmured once they were out of earshot. "I don't know what's gotten into her."
"Maybe it's the shock of what happened to our home," Sarah suggested.
"She probably misses Tony," Beulah said, but she didn't sound convinced.
"We all miss things." Liliat sighed. "But this seems different. She barely ate at breakfast, and I heard her being sick this morning."
