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She stepped into the hallway, which had a chandelier blazing from the high ceiling. This event seemed to be very busy. The buzz of voices and laughter was coming from inside the big, arched doorway to the right. Now to get them through the door. She realized she had no idea how much tickets would cost. Luckily she had some money from Heidi’s family.
With Gabe behind her, Cora joined the queue for the door, shuffling forward behind another woman, who seemed to be here on her own, and who was wearing a plain black mask.
“Ticket, please,” the doorman asked the woman. In English, though accented.
She looked at him inquiringly.
“Ticket,” he repeated. “You would have purchased a ticket online to come here? We do not accept payment at the door.”
“Ah, my ticket,” she said, rummaging in her purse as he consulted a list.
Of course, Cora realized, feeling a flare of annoyance. Of course, tickets would be pre-purchased so that they had all the buyer’s information online. The modern way of screening potential new members.
She turned away, clasping Gabe’s hand briefly, pretending to be casual as they left the line, although she had a nasty feeling the guard was watching her suspiciously.
Gabe followed her as she headed outside.
"Tickets are not available at the door," Cora said. “You had to pre-purchase them.” She glanced at him, wondering if he had the same idea as her.
"We find another way in?" Gabe asked.
"Yes. I reckon we do that. Let's go snooping and see if there's an alternative route."
Cora and Gabe headed around the outside of the stately home. It was set in well-groomed grounds. She saw faint lights in the distance, which might belong to outbuildings.
There had to be another way into a huge manor house like this. Through the kitchens was her best bet. She was keeping an eye out for any sign of them and a nose out for the smell of food.
There was a door. What was this? It had an engraved sign saying ‘Staff Only,' but it was locked. She continued on, looking at every possibility, looking up as well as down in case there was a chance to climb inside. This door seemed to go to a cellar or outside storage area. Here was another one, but also locked. There was a window, but steel bars guarded the way in.
"How about this?" Gabe asked, pointing to the building’s stone corner.
Ahead, to the right, was a steep staircase leading down.
"Let's go and see," she said. “It might be just another cellar.”
But as she reached it, she saw that it did seem to lead somewhere.
At the bottom of the stairs, there was a steel door. Closed.
Cora tried the handle. It didn’t move. She tried again, shoving into it with all her strength, thinking fiercely that it was old and rusty and probably weak. Maybe her thoughts helped. At any rate, this time, she felt the lock give. One more powerful lunge of her shoulder, and it rattled open.
They found themselves in a dimly lit corridor. Cora walked quietly down it, with Gabe behind, following it as it turned to the left and then to the right, wondering where this underground labyrinth would lead.
There was light ahead. To the left, a door was slightly ajar, and Cora could hear faint voices coming from inside.
They crept closer, and Cora peered through the crack in the door.
In the room, she saw a group of four people seated around a large table, their faces obscured by masks. The room was lit only by a single candle in the center of the table, casting eerie shadows on the walls.
She felt her heart accelerate.
They'd come here looking for a way in, but they'd stumbled upon something even better. This must be a pre-meeting, and that meant these people must be senior members of the cult. She watched carefully, taking in their appearance. There was a woman in a pink glittery mask wearing a satin ball gown. There was another woman in a stark gray mask that matched her hair. And there were two men, one whose whole face was covered by a dragon mask, and one wearing a black mask. It was impossible to tell which of the men, if either, was the cult’s owner and founder. But Cora was going to put money on the fact that one of them was.
They stood up. Chairs scraped, and Cora shrank back. Were they going to come out this way?
No, they weren't. The pre-meeting had ended, and now the four were going through another door at the back of the room.
Cora waited until they had gone. Then, she pushed the door wider. It led into another corridor, which she thought branched off in the direction of the ballroom.
