The music stopped and every floor tile flipped open. My eyes lifted to the throne high above me and I started up the stairs, which only queens had ever walked upon. There were two pedestals to either side of the throne and I reached out for what they each held, the royal scepter and the Queens' crown. It was my crown now by right. I placed the elegantly jeweled creation on my head and sat down on the throne of Sheba.
I truly was Candace now and I felt like it too. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Marshawn tugging a reluctant Flint away from the pillar I had leaned him up against and down the hall I had indicated for them to go down. To keep the spell bound attention of the rest; I inserted the scepter into a slot on the throne and twisted.
The floor tiles flipped flat and I beckoned to the group at large to approach. They seemed to break out of their stunned amazement and came to their senses, but they didn't notice Marshawn or Flint's absence, as they had been standing away from the group. They sent my father and half brothers across the floor first, as security for Heinrich's men to see if the floor would hold, if they only knew how my finger itched to send my own family plummeting into the depths.
I had to take them all out though. Heinrich quickly darted across the floor and started to climb the stairs up to me. His eyes were full of the avarice of his greed and his insane thirst for power. He took aim on my head with his pistol and chuckled, as if from some private joke. He was going to kill me.
"Aren't you going to verify the existence of your treasure?" I asked, cocking an eyebrow upward.
Remembrance flickered in his eyes and he glanced at the darkened doorway behind me. His eyes shined with a fiery intensity of yearning as he licked his lips, while starring at the open doorway beyond the throne.
I shook my head, "Admittedly I don't know my Bible as well as I should, but I have to admit my recent experiences in life have only illustrated the truth to be found in 1st Timothy 6:10. Are you familiar with the verse Heinrich?"
He gazed at me in sheer hatred. "I guess not then. For your benefit, I'll refresh your memory, it goes something like this, 'The love of money is the root of all evil.' Remember now Heinrich? There's nothing wrong with possessing such a treasure, as lies beyond that door, but you've let it consume you."