Page 4 of Drakhana's Treasure
I keep my head down, breathing hard so I don’t cry. The others seem to forget about me pretty quickly, exclaiming over all the things they find in the cupboards and testing out what all the switches and dials do. Already the motion of the car is making me sick.
My heart tells me I’m not going to enjoy a single moment of this trip. I blink hard on the stinging tears, trying to tell myself that all I have to do is get through one week. If I’m completely inept then they will send me home. I certainly didn’t make a good impression on Rastus. Maybe if I really screw up, I can just go home straight away.
When we hit the city, everyone falls silent. It’s as if a switch has been flipped. Not only are there no voices, there is no movement. Everyone has been struck still by the awesome view of the strip.
The lights hurt my eyes. I can read, but I don’t understand any of the signs I see. The people moving through the streets terrify me. I’ve never seen anything like this before. My fingers start to hurt and I realize I’m gripping the arm rest so tightly my knuckles are going white.
Even Kane and Zelena have their mouths shut. The trip might be worth it just to see both of them shocked out of their godlike confidence.
The limos turn off the street and fall suddenly into a dark pit. I almost scream, feeling the car hitching under me and bucking up and down. Someone shouts in laughter and I realize this is something completely normal. The car is simply going to an underground carpark. As we get ready to get out Haywin tugs my elbow.
“Didn’t you read anything about Vegas? I sent you some links.” he whispers.
I shake my head. “I lost my phone.”
“In lava?” he asks sarcastically.
“Well…”
“Oh. Kirra.” He shakes his head, looking at the floor.
We are led upstairs through a bland, colorless hallway. One of the drivers escorts us, speaking boldly about how this is a ‘service entrance’ and we should always use these if we are coming in from dragon flight. I walk carefully, my bare feet seeming to soak up the cold from the stone like floor.
We ride upwards in an elevator and again, I nearly scream. I keep my mouth clamped shut and watch the others. No one seems afraid. If I’m going to get through this, I need to stay calm. By watching how the others react, I should be able to avoid disgracing myself… But I think I’ve done that already.
One by one, the others disappear behind white doors. I’m expecting a small room, a bed and a bathroom maybe. It’s all I’ve ever had growing up. Since I didn’t do my research, I don’t expect anything more.
When the old fellow opens my door I almost fall down.
“This… This isn’t my room?” I stand on the threshold, trembling.
“It sure is honey. Get yourself cleaned up and meet Rastus downstairs in half an hour.”
I take a shaky step forward so I can shut the door, then I stand there for a few minutes, my stomach twisting itself into an infinity knot.
From the doorway long carpeted steps lead down into a sunken lounge area. It’s adorned with many long chairs covered in soft cushions. To my left is a small kitchen with a few appliances. Walking slowly, I start to skirt the lounge area.
The entire wall on the other side of the room is a window. There is nothing between me and the city lights except for a thick pane of glass.
The city looks alive. The colored lights of the buildings and the sweep of headlights through the streets look like arteries pulsing with lifeblood. The comparison is so real it makes my head spin. I run into the darkness behind the lounge, hoping to find a bathroom.
The next room is the bedroom but I don’t have time to look at the huge bed as I flick on a light and keep running. Mercifully, there is a bathroom on the other side of it. I stagger to the toilet and throw up, shaking on the cold tiled floor.
It’s easy to crawl straight into the shower, even with my whole body trembling. It takes me a few tries to get the water flowing and once the hot water hits my skin, I feel much better. I take my time and let the water relax me. I even turn off the cold and let the fury of the hot water pound me until my skin is red. It’s not lava, but it will do for now.
I dry myself off and, in the bedroom, I find a selection of clothes. I just pull a dress over my head and slip into the first pair of shoes I see. I don’t know how long I’ve been in here but I can’t be late. What will they say about me if I screw up again? Kane will never shut up.
Thankfully I see a few others heading for the elevator when I’m on my way out. I follow them quickly, trying to keep my head up and appear confident.
That disappears when we hit the ground floor.
The doors open and a tidal wave of sound crashes into me. The machines dinging and whirring, people shouting and laughing, music playing far too loud. I wish I had a hand to hold but not even Haywin is around right now. I follow the others quickly, feeling like I might get lost if I drift too far away.
We file into a large room off the main floor. The noise is slightly muffled and I can think clearer immediately. Rastus is at the head of the table and all of the others are already here. I take the last seat and try to keep my head down. From across the table, someone hisses at me.
“What?” I whisper with annoyance.
“You know you’re wearing a ball gown with sneakers?” Janice chuckles.
