Moonlight Secrets (#2 Penderry's Bizarre)

Chapter Sixteen

By morning they reached the end of the line, and Bunny awoke to the commotion of passengers leaving the express train.

"We'll take a ghari from here," said Singh, rising from the bench.

Outside, Bunny found no platform, only a dusty clearing and a post office bungalow. Workers wearing nothing but swathes of cloth around their hips transferred mail from the train to a cart outside the building. She looked back down the tracks. The railway line disappeared into the palm groves, while the road to Purabad, their destination, wound through hills and jungle. Beyond the trees, the untamed land went on for miles. One might get lost out there.

In front of the bungalow, guides with elephants waited for custom, along with a row of horse-drawn gharis. Madhur secured the service of a pair of drivers, and Lala shoved their luggage into the back of the vehicle. Singh watched the servants, squinting in the dappled sunlight.

One might get lost in the jungle, thought Bunny, but one could also hide.

She glanced around and spotted a path into the trees. Then she surprised Anju by reaching for her hand.

"Now?" Anju whispered loudly.

"Shh." Bunny put a finger to her lips.

She turned towards the grove, but Gupta stepped in front of her.

With a gasp, she froze and blinked up at him.

"This way," said Singh, leading a path to the hired vehicles.

If the prince had noticed their intent to slip away, he gave no sign.

Gupta narrowed his eyes and growled.

Steeling herself, Bunny clenched her jaw and spun on her heel, following Singh.

"We should reach the palace by early evening," he told Anju. "Madhur, see what the fellow at that stall is selling. We need breakfast."

They piled into one of the gharis and waited. Somewhere in the grove, the morning calls of jungle fowl echoed through the trees. At length, Madhur returned with glasses of chai, fresh roti bread and warm samosas. Bunny ate half and saved the rest for later. Once the cups were returned to the vendor, they set off on the last leg of their journey.

The sun was dipping in the sky by the time they reached a hill crest in remote Purabad. A valley unrolled below, shimmering green and pink in the receding sunlight. And at the heart, the Chandni Mahal rose out of the haze like a great lily on a pond. White marble walls shone, starred with arched windows, and crowned with dome-topped pavilions. Lush gardens and tall, red-flowering dhak trees surrounded the palace.

"My father's kingdom, Anju," said Singh.

Both girls stared, despite themselves, struck by the beauty of the palace. There were many grand palaces in India, steeped in mysterious history, almost magical in their air. But behind the fairytale veil, dark magic dwelled within this den of wolves.

High walls surrounded the grounds, and when they reached the arched gateway, two turbaned-guards unlocked a set of iron gates. The barred entrance closed behind them with a clang, and dread climbed up Bunny's spine. As dusk fell over the manicured lawns and rosebushes, they followed a path to the entrance. Pale as the moon, the palace's tall face loomed over them, casting a chill shade across the front steps. Madhur and Lala pulled open the brass-studded oak doors and groaning hinges beckoned them inside the jaws of the beast.

"Welcome to Chandni Mahal," said the prince.

With apprehension, the girls entered, their footfalls echoing around the foyer. Bunny's simple slippers slapped the cool marble with each step, while Anju jingled like a bell in her bangles and anklets. Ornate barrel lanterns, forged from metal and stained glass, dangled on chains from the walls and pillars. The lamps illuminated the majestic palace, casting long shadows across the gleaming floor. Singh led the procession to the centre of the hall.