Read Online Into the Dark (The Conjurors) by Kristen Pham - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Kristen Pham
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Thai’s eyes flickered with anger. “You really don’t get me, do you? I’m not afraid for myself! It’s you he’s after, and I won’t leave your side until you’re on your way to the Globe. To imply that I would abandon my quest at the first sign of trouble is an insult.”
Valerie felt awful for making him think that she underestimated him, especially when she thought he was one of the bravest people she’d ever known. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to say that at all. I meant–”
He interrupted, “You can have your day as long as no more trouble finds us. But the second anything weird happens, I’m getting you out of here right away and I don’t want to hear a word against it from you.”
Less than an hour later, Valerie and Thai had disembarked the plane, collected their luggage, and found the air-conditioned bus that would take them to a campground in Cairo where they would stay for the night. But just as they settled in, Cyrus appeared, perching on the arm of Valerie’s seat. His mischievous grin sparkled in the bright Egyptian sunlight.
“I’ve got a surprise, guys. Turns out we have a contact here who has pulled some strings for you two. Get off the bus at the Mena House Oberoi. A host will be waiting for you. He’ll take care of you.”
“But what about-” Valerie started to ask, but Cyrus had already disappeared.
Thirty minutes later, the bus passed through 20-foot, ornately carved iron gates that led up a flower-lined path, through a maze of elaborate gardens, and then pulled up to the front door of a building that resembled a palace more than any hotel that she had ever seen in Oakland.
“Mena House Oberoi!” the driver shouted.
Valerie and Thai stared at each other in disbelief, their stunned expressions perfect mirrors of each other. Valerie heard Cyrus laugh. “You Earth-dwellers are so easily impressed.” Thai pulled her off the bus, and she stared at everything in a daze.
“Is this a mistake?”
“It’s real, Val. Enjoy it,” Cyrus whispered in her ear.
The enormous front door of the hotel opened, and they were immediately greeted by a tall man clothed entirely in white except for a blue silk sash elaborately embroidered in gold with symbols that Valerie didn’t recognize. “On behalf of my employer, I welcome you, American guests,” he said with a friendly smile. “I am Chisisi, your personal host here at the Mena House Oberoi. It is my great pleasure to attend to your every need while you are here.”
Valerie and Thai were so blown away by the magnificence of the hotel and the reception that they were dumbstruck – that is, until they saw Cyrus pretending to make out with a golden statue of the ancient Egyptian god Ra. It was all Valerie could do to keep a straight face.
“Come, let us get out of the midday sun,” Chisisi said cheerfully. Then, without wasting another minute, he whisked them past check-in so quickly that all the glittering finery became a blur. He stopped before a distinguished dark wood door at the remote end of the thirteenth floor.
“Enjoy, with our compliments,” Chisisi said as he unlocked the door.
Valerie entered the room and gasped. The living room of their suite was bigger than any hotel room she had ever seen. It was extravagantly decorated in golden hues, including an enormous gold mirrored circle that adorned an entire wall. Chisisi unloaded their backpacks and looked at the two gravely.
“Please know that you are most welcome here at Mena House, but I would be remiss if I didn’t warn you that you must be on your guard. Please do not assume there is no danger here or anywhere in Giza. We have many strange guests visiting our landmarks, and not all are friendly. Do not hesitate to call upon me if I can be of service. Simply call Amun at the reception desk and ask for me.”
“Oh, I’m sure we can take care of
Valerie felt awful for making him think that she underestimated him, especially when she thought he was one of the bravest people she’d ever known. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to say that at all. I meant–”
He interrupted, “You can have your day as long as no more trouble finds us. But the second anything weird happens, I’m getting you out of here right away and I don’t want to hear a word against it from you.”
Less than an hour later, Valerie and Thai had disembarked the plane, collected their luggage, and found the air-conditioned bus that would take them to a campground in Cairo where they would stay for the night. But just as they settled in, Cyrus appeared, perching on the arm of Valerie’s seat. His mischievous grin sparkled in the bright Egyptian sunlight.
“I’ve got a surprise, guys. Turns out we have a contact here who has pulled some strings for you two. Get off the bus at the Mena House Oberoi. A host will be waiting for you. He’ll take care of you.”
“But what about-” Valerie started to ask, but Cyrus had already disappeared.
Thirty minutes later, the bus passed through 20-foot, ornately carved iron gates that led up a flower-lined path, through a maze of elaborate gardens, and then pulled up to the front door of a building that resembled a palace more than any hotel that she had ever seen in Oakland.
“Mena House Oberoi!” the driver shouted.
Valerie and Thai stared at each other in disbelief, their stunned expressions perfect mirrors of each other. Valerie heard Cyrus laugh. “You Earth-dwellers are so easily impressed.” Thai pulled her off the bus, and she stared at everything in a daze.
“Is this a mistake?”
“It’s real, Val. Enjoy it,” Cyrus whispered in her ear.
The enormous front door of the hotel opened, and they were immediately greeted by a tall man clothed entirely in white except for a blue silk sash elaborately embroidered in gold with symbols that Valerie didn’t recognize. “On behalf of my employer, I welcome you, American guests,” he said with a friendly smile. “I am Chisisi, your personal host here at the Mena House Oberoi. It is my great pleasure to attend to your every need while you are here.”
Valerie and Thai were so blown away by the magnificence of the hotel and the reception that they were dumbstruck – that is, until they saw Cyrus pretending to make out with a golden statue of the ancient Egyptian god Ra. It was all Valerie could do to keep a straight face.
“Come, let us get out of the midday sun,” Chisisi said cheerfully. Then, without wasting another minute, he whisked them past check-in so quickly that all the glittering finery became a blur. He stopped before a distinguished dark wood door at the remote end of the thirteenth floor.
“Enjoy, with our compliments,” Chisisi said as he unlocked the door.
Valerie entered the room and gasped. The living room of their suite was bigger than any hotel room she had ever seen. It was extravagantly decorated in golden hues, including an enormous gold mirrored circle that adorned an entire wall. Chisisi unloaded their backpacks and looked at the two gravely.
“Please know that you are most welcome here at Mena House, but I would be remiss if I didn’t warn you that you must be on your guard. Please do not assume there is no danger here or anywhere in Giza. We have many strange guests visiting our landmarks, and not all are friendly. Do not hesitate to call upon me if I can be of service. Simply call Amun at the reception desk and ask for me.”
“Oh, I’m sure we can take care of
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