A week after meeting in the restaurant, Silas drove Eliza to Khan Tower. The building always looked impressive from a distance, but now Eliza felt like an ant. Shere Khan waited for them outside the entrance with a tiger porter and luggage rack.

"Is that all you have?" Shere referred to the single suitcase Eliza carried.

"Yes."

"Very well." He turned to the porter. "That should make your job easier."

"It's fine," said Eliza. "I can carry it on my own."

"I insist, you are my guest."

He probably just wants to prove something to Dad. Not wanting to raise a bigger fuss, she handed the case to the porter, who placed it on the rack. The measly brown, stamp-covered case looked out of place on the fancy maroon platform with gold bars. Out of place like me.

Silas knelt to her level, put his hands on her shoulder, and smiled. "You sure you'll be okay?"

"Dad," she sighed. "I told you, I can handle it." Silas pulled her into a hug.

"I know," he choked. "Because you're a trooper." After holding back all day, Eliza released her tears.

"Just like you?"

"Better." He smiled one more time with a tear-stained face.

The next thing Eliza knew, she was watching her father drive away, along with her uncle who still seemed a stranger to her.

"Well," he said, once the car was out of sight. "Shall we go in?"

Eliza nodded, still finding it difficult to speak in his presence. She would have to get over it sooner or later,or it was going to be a hard stay. She followed the two older tigers through the door. The inside of the building made the Château Mormant look like her shabby apartment. Eliza was so busy admiring the architecture, Shere had to clear his throat to draw her attention back to him. He and the porter had approached a desk attended by an elderly rat woman. Eliza ran to the desk.

"Mrs. Snarly," Shere spoke to the woman. "This is my niece Eliza." Mrs. Snarly raised her eyebrows at the girl. If Mrs. Snarly wasn't used to working for Khan, she would have voiced her surprise that he had a niece, let alone a sibling. Since she wanted to keep her job, she never asked about his personal life. "She'll be staying with me for a while," Shere continued, "and will be permitted to enter my living quarters at all times."

"Yes, Mr. Khan," said Mrs. Snarly. There was something robotic about her reply, as if she had the same answer for everything.

"I trust you can answer her questions and let her know when I'm in a meeting?"

"Yes, sir." Not once did either make eye contact with Eliza. She might as well have not been there. Not that she was complaining; she still wasn't sure how to communicate with them.

"Good," said Shere Khan. "Come, Eliza." She followed him to the elevator, which the porter ringed open before wheeling the luggage rack inside. The two remaining tigers followed him. "When you return from school," Shere continued, "ask for the living quarters and he'll take you to the top floor."

"Okay," she replied. The porter handed Eliza back her suitcase once the elevators dinged open and she followed Shere out. The moment the doors closed behind them, Eliza found herself in a dim corridor with several doors on each side and one set of larger doors at the end. Now alone with the intimidating Shere Khan, she had a sudden urge to bang on the elevator and beg the porter to come back for her.

After an awkward silence, Shere said, "Well, I'll show you to your room." He led her to one of the doors, pointing out which ones led the kitchen and the bathrooms. The room he showed her looked like something out of a magazine, only gloomier. The bedding and drapes were deep red, the walls in a rusty yellow, and the furniture and woodwork painted black.

At least it's clean, she assured herself.

"I'll let you get settled then," said Shere. "Dinner will be served in an hour. I'll be working in my office, so if you have questions, best ask them now."

"Um," she hesitated. She did have a lot on her mind, but what else could be expected when she was stepping into a new life? Even if she knew what exactly to ask, she was still tongue-tied in front of her uncle. Just calling him uncle was taking some getting used to. "I think I'm all set."

"All right then." With that, he left the room.

Eliza released a breath she didn't even know she was holding. She plopped down on the musty-smelling bed, put her suitcase on the floor and opened it. A framed photograph of herself with her father lay on top of the folded clothes. Beside it was her favorite book Treasure Island. She picked up the photograph with tears lining her face.

"I'm trying, Dad," Eliza choked. She hugged the picture to her chest and lay on the bed. "I really am."