Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 83933 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83933 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Hogg thrust me toward a girl frying sausages. “This is Moriah Shaker from the otherworld. Clean her up and take her to Mr. West’s office to meet Henry. But be careful. She’s a spicy one.”
Otherworld, he’d said. Did that mean what it seemed to mean?
The girl heaved a weary sigh and motioned someone over to finish the frying. She didn’t grab me, just stalked from the room, expecting my compliance.
I cast a final, longing glance at those sausages and followed. We traveled through a series of doors and down a flight of steps, into an underground chamber with rocky walls and a bubbling spring. Four women my age congregated there, wearing sparkling bathing suits, chatting and laughing. They ranged in sizes and colors. From the palest white to the darkest black, each a bona fide beauty.
The waters called to my deepest depths. How long since I’d taken the time to relax and swim?
Upon noticing me, everyone went silent.
“Moriah Shaker from the otherworld, meet Mr. West’s house choir. They sing at every meal and other times too. Both Wests are home, by the way,” the servant informed the bath babes. “You’ll be summoned for duty as soon as Henry’s snack is served. But first, the newcomer must be prepared. House choir, meet Moriah Shaker, the new Tandi no doubt. I’m told she’s spicy.”
“I’m really not. Spicy, I mean.” To prove it, I unveiled my best waitressing smile and waved. “I’m just a weary traveler—” The servant shoved me into the water.
I came up sputtering with a rebuke on my tongue as my slippers sank to the bottom. But oh, wow, this felt nice. Like my favorite memories wrapped in a dream come true. While I tread, the burn in my palm faded. Any remaining muscle aches dulled. Even my hunger subsided.
Swimming to a shallower section, I looked around. The members of the choir were climbing out of the pool while the servant gathered a towel and a ridiculously sheer green genie costume from a shelf nestled inside a cozy nook.
Was I supposed to wear the slinky garment when I faced Henry? If so, Tandi’s role in his life was no longer a mystery. Unfortunately for Henry, I wasn’t on board with becoming a replacement mistress.
The bath babes collected an array of jars and returned to the water. “The newcomer must be prepared” now made sense, too. “I’m able to prepare myself, ladies.” And not for some guy’s sexual amusement.
“But we were instructed to help,” the redhead replied as the group surrounded me. In a matter of minutes, they stripped, soaped, scrubbed, and oiled me from top to bottom. Protesting did no good. The women were kind, but relentless.
Enveloped by an incredible fragrance of sugared cherries and sweet almonds, I finally gave in. Yes, I could have thrown elbows, but why bother? Better to save my energy for Henry West.
My companions twittered as they worked.
“Your hair is lovely. Reminds me of sable silk.”
“But your poor, abused hands!”
“I’ve never seen eyes like yours. A mix of amber and emeralds, with rings of lighter and darker shades in between.”
Blushing from the wealth of compliments, I interjected, “Why was Tandi sent to the chopping block?” Had she done something? Broken a law? Or had Henry simply tired of her?
“She fell in love with a delivery boy,” the redhead said, massaging my scalp, and dang that felt good.
“Such a shame she’s gone. I liked her.” The blond bit her bottom lip. “But if I’m being honest, a part of me envies her the escape, tragic though it was.”
The other choir members twittered their shock, scandalized by her admission.
“What?” the blond demanded. “Every time Mr. West or his son go on a crimen spree, they come back crueler.”
Nodding and murmurs of “so cold” ensued. Apparently, it was a truth that couldn’t be denied.
Cringing inside, I rubbed the spot over my heart. Would I become crueler, now that I’d experienced a crimen? I moaned when the blond began massaging my shoulders. Mmm. My eyelids slid shut. I hoped she never stopped. “What are your names?”
“I’m Lulu. This is Gladys, Buttercup, and Elaine.” She rinsed the soap from my hair. “Tandi was from the otherworld too. A storm brought her here.” The others shuddered at the word “storm.”
I reacted as if I’d made contact with an electric socket. “Did Tandi ever mention the state of Kansas? Ozworld, to be specific.”
“Not that I’m aware of,” Gladys replied, and the others twittered their agreement.
Maybe I’d come across her at some point? I poured through memories for any hint of Tandi. Preschool, junior high. High school. Two years of college. Nothing. “How long did she live here?”
“Oh, six months or so. More than anything, she longed to return home. The Guardian could’ve helped her, but Henry threw her lover in prison and threatened to kill him if she ran.”