Page 99 of Dark Shaman: The Lost Treasure
Another flight of stairs brought them to the topside pavilion, and through the glass doors, Tamira could see daylight—gray and dim, and rain, sheets of it, driven horizontal by the wind.
"Out, out!" One of the guards opened the door and held it for the others to exit. "Head out to that elevated area over there."
That was smart. If the water geysered to the surface, it would burst through the pavilion's two available openings and catch everyone and everything in its path. The water would rush toward the lowest point of the plateau, which was the area overlooking the cliff and then down to the ocean below. Anyone who got swept away would die, splattering on the rocks below.
Even immortals wouldn't survive that fall.
More than once, Tamira had contemplated ending her existence that way, but she was too much of a coward to do it. It would be a very painful way to die.
As soon as she was out the door, the warm rain hit her like the stream from a pressurized shower head, instantly soaking through her clothes, and the wind tried to tear the bag from her hands. She'd experienced monsoon storms before, but nothing like this. The sky was gray, split by constant lightning. Thunder rolled continuously, so loud it drowned out voices.
"This way!" Areana appeared on the elevated area like a vision in white, somehow maintaining her composure even in the deluge. Her personal servants held up a large tarp, creating a temporary shelter. "Ladies, over here!"
As they huddled beneath the inadequate protection, water still found its way through, running in streams off the edges, but it was better than having the full force of the storm pelt their heads.
Tamira positioned herself where she could see the two pavilion exits. The main one that the ladies used, and the smaller one that was used by servants.
No one was emerging yet. Where was Elias?
"Look at that." Tony pointed through the rain.
Another tarp had been erected nearby, this one sheltering Lord Navuh and more of Areana's personal staff, who were fussing around their lord and lady. They'd even gotten out two chairs so Navuh and Areana could hold court out here in the deluge.
It was so absurd that it was funny.
"It's like that movie," she murmured.
Liliat looked at her questioningly. "What movie?"
"Titanic. The one about the ship sinking. How they kept the class divisions even as people were drowning."
"What a cheerful comparison," Raviki muttered.
Several guards appeared, probably new ones who had entered through the two checkpoints. They formed up next to Lord Navuh's tarp, standing in the rain and awaiting orders.
It was unprecedented for the guards who patrolled the perimeter to enter the harem area, signifying how dire things were for Lord Navuh to allow the breach in protocol.
"Secure the perimeter," Navuh commanded, his voice carrying over the storm. "Set up a containment area for the servants as they emerge. Order needs to be maintained."
Tamira's heart sank. They were here to contain the people, not to help with the rescue.
How typical.
"They should be helping," Tula hissed. "They should be down there carrying children and helping whoever needs assistance. Not standing up here worrying about containment!"
"Tula," Tony warned, but she was too agitated to listen, and in her anger, she glared at their master. "The lord has already sent guards to help," Tony continued. "You saw them going down." He got in front of her, blocking the lord's view of her.
She didn't like it, but he kept murmuring to her until her posture deflated and her shoulders sagged. He then wrapped his arms around her, and she rested her head on his chest.
Watching, Tamira couldn't help a pang of envy. Where was Elias?
As if to answer her question, the servants' door burst open, and people began pouring out, but Elias was not among them.
They emerged into the rain with nowhere to go, huddling against the pavilion walls for whatever protection they could find. The guards made no move to help them.
Where was Elias?
"Bring the children here!" Tamira shouted. "Under our tarp! There's room!"
