Chapter 3- Maybe I can handle shopping here

As we got back onto the busy side walk I turned back towards the train station.

“Wait, where you going?” Maia said as she suddenly stopped and grabbed my arm.

As I opened my mouth an elderly man dressed in a brown suit and bowler hat ran into us.

He glared at us as we apologized and as he walked away a muttered, “bloody tourists” followed after him.

We moved to the side and tried again, “I’m going back.  I’m tired, hungry, and I’ve spent way too much money.”

“We can’t go back!  We haven’t even gone to Harrods yet.  It’s just a bit further.” She said like I knew what a Harrods was.

“What’s a Harrods?”  I questioned.

Her eyes widened and a scandalized look appeared on her face, “What’s a Harrods?”  She parroted dramatically. “It’s only the largest department store in the world! It’s five acres and has 330 departments, it even has a dress code!” She added oddly impressed with that last part.

“That’s not a store.; it’s a small town.” I quipped.

“Oh it’s better.” She said seriously. “It has more culture than most.  There’s an Egypt room.” She added with a smile and gleam in her eye.

“Yes, but I’m tired and we can go some other time.” I replied as I tried walking back again.

Her smile slipped as she countered “Oh come on, it won’t kill you and besides how about all those times I went to all those museums without complaining.  It’s my turn.  This is my museum.”

 That was a lie, she always complained.

But at least she went, I agreed silently to myself.

She must have noticed that I was wavering, because she batted her eyelashes in the way men found irresistible before adding, “please”

“Ok” I said exasperated as I rolled my eyes and looked towards the heavens.

“Great” she replied as she dropped the cutesy act and pushed me towards the department store.

 

-

This isn’t a town, it’s a country, I thought to myself as I took in the seven-story palatial style building with its baroque style dome and overall opulence.  

As we started up the stairs, a doorman opened the gilded door and a tall woman came out of it.   She was followed by a man wearing a tailored suit carrying various dark green bags emblazoned with Harrods on them.

She was tall, around six feet and had a heart shaped face with high cheekbones. She had smooth skin the color of rich chocolate and her ebony hair was shorn closely to her head.  She was wearing a designer ¾ sleeve, red lace sheath dress with blood red lips and matching black strappy heels.  She was gorgeous. 

As she walked, she looked up and made eye contact with me and the weirdest thing happened.

She did a double take and just stared.    Her burnt almond colored eyes widened and she immediately stopped.

 She looked stunned.

For a moment, her eyes blazed with an unreadable emotion, and then the look disappeared and her face returned to its carefully blank expression.  She started walking towards me.

She glanced to my left and noticed Maia.  Then stopped.  She sneered and threw Maia a look of such haughtiness that it could only been produced by generations of good breeding. 

Maia’s nostrils flared as she narrowed her eyes and glared right back. 

They were having a showdown right before my eyes. 

The woman then turned to the man behind her and whispered something into his ear.  He escorted her to the black Bentley parked curbside and opened the door for her. 

We watched as she gracefully got in and he put the shopping in the trunk.  He then took out his cell phone and made a call while walking to the driver’s seat.  He slid in, turned on the ignition, and drove off.

“What the hell was that? Do you know her? I asked Maia with eyebrows raised and thoroughly confused.

“No.   Probably some uppity b***h that thinks she’s too good for everyone.  Come on.” She said scowling.  “Let’s go” she added as she walked up the stairs.

I hesitated for a moment and felt a weird sensation come over me as I looked at the car driving further away.  I turned away and went up the stairs.

 -

As we approached the the elegantly dressed doorman opened the door for us, smiled, and let us in�"it was overwhelming.  It was almost too much.  It was absolutely breathtaking.

 It looked more like a work of art than a department store. 

The main room was Egyptian themed and covered in hieroglyphics and reliefs of Egyptian Gods and Goddesses.   All of it was painted in lush shades of golds and creams.    In the very center of the store, was an Egyptian escalator covered in art that took you to all seven stories, including the Egyptian room, that had a Sphinx statue and a replica of the Rosetta stone within it. 

At the very top of the escalator was a painting of the night sky, the deep black contrasting beautiful with the figures of the zodiac that were painted a rich gold.  The main food court had statues of peacocks and a mural painted on the ceiling detailing a forest scene.  There were restaurants on every floor and both a champagne and prosecco bar.

 They had everything, including a room dedicated solely to pens and stationary.  I checked the price of a fountain pen and my eyes almost bulged out of my head when I saw that it was over £2,000.  I gently put it back down.

I wandered into the section of some avant-garde British designer and was spellbound by his designs.  It was the style of clothes that I’d wear if I was brave enough--and of course if I had an extra thousand pounds or two. 

It was modern steampunk, a combination of Victorian era styles, takes on modern technology, and the attitude of counter culture.  The collection was filled with leather jackets, moto inspired pants, blouses, corset inspired bodices, and flowing jackets. 

I loved them, but they stood out too much and I already stood out enough.  They were beautiful and I closed my eyes and imagined myself wearing them.

 I started to walk away when an uneven length black taffeta skirt caught my eye.  It was attached to a navy-blue velvet bodice with detailed lacing at the back. It was breathtaking and I couldn’t help but stroke the soft delicate fabric and hold it up against me.  A watchful sales attendant came up to me, “Would you like to try it on ma’am?” the twenty-something wearing the designer’s jewelry asked with a smile on her face.

 I hesitated, “No, thank you.” I finally responded wistfully. 

 I headed back towards Egyptian escalator and met Maia at the souvenir room, while there we both ended buying an overpriced Harrod’s mug and a magnet.

 

On our way, back to the train station, the clouds finally burst and it started pouring.  In an attempt to get out of the rain, we ran as quickly as possible back to the train station. 

Rivulets of water poured over us and splashed everywhere as our boots hit the pavement.  Every other word out of my mouth was an apology to our fellow pedestrians as we zig zagged through the crowd and almost barreled into them. 

When we finally arrived at Marble Arch the rain finally let up, we stopped near a cross walk and tried to catch our breaths

As I panted, I turned towards the Marble Arch and a sense of malevolence struck me so hard that I almost dropped to my knees.  I couldn’t breathe, it was like the air was sucked out of me.

Then, something black appeared out of nowhere.  It was as black as ink.  No light reflected through it; it was completely opaque.  I trembled as it started to take a humanoid form and I frantically looked around to see if anyone else saw it�"they didn’t. 

I turned back and watched as it whispered to a young man no more than twenty who was leaning against the arch.  He was gangly with a pimply face and bulbous nose.  He wore a bright red hat and baggy jeans and started nodding along to everything the shadow said. 

The man turned to an elderly woman with a black umbrella walking a few feet in front of him and with one final nod lunged forward, grabbed her purse and ran.

 The elderly lady screamed and as she flailed and her umbrella flew out of her hands.   Pedestrians stopped and turned to see what the commotion was, but I only had eyes for the shadow who opened his mouth unnaturally wide and inhaled a grey wisp that was emanating from the running man.  When the shadow was sated it turned to me.

In a panic, I quickly stepped back but couldn’t get enough traction on the wet concrete. 

I slipped, but instead of falling backwards, I stumbled and flew forward.  As I landed on the wet asphalt, tiny rocks tore into my hand, they felt like they were burning.

  I then heard a loud blaring sound and as I turned my head, I saw a black taxi barreling towards me.  It slammed its brake, but the asphalt was too wet and it still came rushing towards me.

  I heard a loud scream and realized that it came from me.  I heard more screams and shouts then closed my eyes preparing for impact.

Then a strong pair of arms grabbed me.

Author's Note

Please review :)

I'm a new author and am looking for feedback

Reviews

[Nanjie]

Binging on these three chapters,i honestly cant wait anymore for the rest. I keep checking continually craving for more. You are a creative and talented writer. Your descriptive writing is excellent had me drifting off into another world.

[WriterGirl247247]

Excellent chapter! We're beginning to reach the tipping point where everything changes, and it's exciting!

I'm curious about the woman. How does she know Astrid and Maia? Why did she have such a different reaction for each? I have a feeling the phone call will come back to haunt Astrid.

There are some typos. Having " instead of a comma, duplicate words, missing periods and end quotes, and the like. If you look through it, they won't be hard to find.

The creature was well done. It radiates maliciousness and terror. Interested on how you delve into it more.

Good job. And please send me requests when the next chapter is up.