lot containing some of the most
expensive cars I had ever seen. I wondered why the Chithula would
have
such lavish vehicles and keep the road to the compound in such a bad state of disrepair. As we pulled up to the entrance, Toby turned and shot me a worried glance as if to say,We don't have to do this. But it was already too late for that. We couldn't simply turn around and leave, especially since the Chithula was somehow expecting us. To say the least, it would be insulting and they didn't take disrespect lightly. I knew the odds were good we weren't going to make it out of here alive anyway, but we were already staring down the monster's gullet. We had no choice but to move forward now. A guard moved quickly down the front steps and around to my side of the coupe. With his weapon slung over his shoulder, he reached down and opened my door. Shifting the transmission back into park, I unbuckled my seatbelt and slipped out. Toby and Karl followed suit. "Ma'am,” the guard greeted me exactly as the other had, “if you and your companions will follow me, Chithula is waiting."
I nodded for him to lead the way.
As we moved up the stairs, Toby was on my heels. “I don't like this." "What would you like?” I asked in a hushed tone. "I don't know,” Karl chimed in. “They seem very friendly. If you ignore the automatic weapons in their hands, I mean.” The little Goblin stopped in front of a guard standing motionless next to the front door. Snapping his small frame rigid, his face became very serious as he saluted. “Semper fi, Marine." "Hoorah,” the guard barked without changing his facial expression. Toby cocked an eyebrow at the Goblin. “How did you know he was a Marine?" Karl shrugged. “Just looked badass. Took a guess." The Goblin was going to get us killed. “Come along, Karl." The Goblin snickered and rushed to my side. “That was fun." I shook my head. “Karl, you're an idiot." The guards on either side of the massive double doors reached in and slowly pulled them open. As my eyes adjusted to the light pouring out of the doors, I wondered if this was what the Taj Mahal looked like inside. Clearly reflecting the Chithula's Arabian and Persian heritage, the interior of the mission had been completely gutted and redecorated. Marble stretched along the floors while tall arches dominated the walls and doors. It was beautiful. As the guard escorted us through the main hall, I couldn't help but notice how immense this place looked. From the outside, it seemed it would be much smaller inside. The power of the Chithula was on full display here. Noting the gold etching on the vaguely Roman designs, I knew I wouldn't mind living in a palace like this. Yet there was a staleness to the air. This place was lifeless. Not actually constructed by living beings, it felt dead. We stopped before another set of equally massive and impressive doors. This time however, the doors weren't constructed of wood. Seeming somehow created out of pure gold, the doors glistened in the light. Their polished surface was extraordinarily exquisite. This would have marked a good time to check my hair and makeup before meeting the Chithula ... if I could see my reflection.
such lavish vehicles and keep the road to the compound in such a bad state of disrepair. As we pulled up to the entrance, Toby turned and shot me a worried glance as if to say,We don't have to do this. But it was already too late for that. We couldn't simply turn around and leave, especially since the Chithula was somehow expecting us. To say the least, it would be insulting and they didn't take disrespect lightly. I knew the odds were good we weren't going to make it out of here alive anyway, but we were already staring down the monster's gullet. We had no choice but to move forward now. A guard moved quickly down the front steps and around to my side of the coupe. With his weapon slung over his shoulder, he reached down and opened my door. Shifting the transmission back into park, I unbuckled my seatbelt and slipped out. Toby and Karl followed suit. "Ma'am,” the guard greeted me exactly as the other had, “if you and your companions will follow me, Chithula is waiting."
I nodded for him to lead the way.
As we moved up the stairs, Toby was on my heels. “I don't like this." "What would you like?” I asked in a hushed tone. "I don't know,” Karl chimed in. “They seem very friendly. If you ignore the automatic weapons in their hands, I mean.” The little Goblin stopped in front of a guard standing motionless next to the front door. Snapping his small frame rigid, his face became very serious as he saluted. “Semper fi, Marine." "Hoorah,” the guard barked without changing his facial expression. Toby cocked an eyebrow at the Goblin. “How did you know he was a Marine?" Karl shrugged. “Just looked badass. Took a guess." The Goblin was going to get us killed. “Come along, Karl." The Goblin snickered and rushed to my side. “That was fun." I shook my head. “Karl, you're an idiot." The guards on either side of the massive double doors reached in and slowly pulled them open. As my eyes adjusted to the light pouring out of the doors, I wondered if this was what the Taj Mahal looked like inside. Clearly reflecting the Chithula's Arabian and Persian heritage, the interior of the mission had been completely gutted and redecorated. Marble stretched along the floors while tall arches dominated the walls and doors. It was beautiful. As the guard escorted us through the main hall, I couldn't help but notice how immense this place looked. From the outside, it seemed it would be much smaller inside. The power of the Chithula was on full display here. Noting the gold etching on the vaguely Roman designs, I knew I wouldn't mind living in a palace like this. Yet there was a staleness to the air. This place was lifeless. Not actually constructed by living beings, it felt dead. We stopped before another set of equally massive and impressive doors. This time however, the doors weren't constructed of wood. Seeming somehow created out of pure gold, the doors glistened in the light. Their polished surface was extraordinarily exquisite. This would have marked a good time to check my hair and makeup before meeting the Chithula ... if I could see my reflection.