Kissing Magic Read online

  A hand touched her shoulder. Aline. “You can go with him too. There’s room.”

  Karina asked as nonchalantly as she could, “Why would I do that?”

  13

  Travel

  Sian sat down and stared at the panel in front of him. He could feel a small trace of fear creeping up in his body. Fear itself was a symptom. He had to focus and remember that there were millions of different ways to carry out a plan.

  The door opened. He focused on not showing any reaction. It was Raja. A good thing he’d prepared himself.

  “Cut it off, Sian. You don’t need to pretend to me.”

  He laughed. “Oh, I’m pretending. That’s new.”

  Raja stared at him. “You know what you look like? A cat whose fur has been washed down. It’s all wet, meager, and sad, when it’s usually, you know, fluffy and fabulous.”

  “I’m fluffy?” Sian leaned back on his chair. “What can I do? It won’t look fabulous if it isn’t washed from time to time, will it?”

  Raja stared at him. “Just spit it out. What’s wrong?”

  “Everything is perfect, Raja, or at least as perfect as it can be.”

  She raised an eyebrow. “We’ll have a long time to talk, and you’re going to talk.”

  Being pestered all the way to the south. Just what he needed.

  Okay, Aline’s lift was something else. It wasn’t tiny like Sian’s current lift, but it wasn’t big with an empty center or with weapons on the sides like the lifts from the army. This one had more inner divisions, with some parts with comfortable couches and seats, and, in the middle, what looked like a fancy living room with white couches and a central table. The only comparison Karina could make would be to a private jet, not that she’d ever been in one, but from pictures she’d seen. The lift had also a huge luggage area underneath it. Karina only had a small bag, and she kept it with her.

  The couple who had joined them latest were going to be the keepers of the castle. Their names were Georgia and Matheo, and they pushed some boxes to the luggage area.

  Aline turned to Karina. “Hey, come with me.”

  She opened a door, but it was only the cockpit. That same smooth panel with no lights. Joel stepped in as well. He gave Aline a short kiss, then said, “I’ll try to sleep a little. I want to be alert when we get there. Call me if you need me.”

  “I will,” Aline replied. Joel left and closed the door. Aline turned to Karina. “Do you know how to pilot these?”

  “I haven’t flown much.” That was kind of true.

  “I know. It’s all army, army, army, as if flying was made for war. It’s so much more! I’ll show you a little, though.” She took Karina’s left hand, pressed it on the panel, then pressed her hand beside it. Lights went up. She touched a couple with her right hand, and a light went on beneath Karina’s.

  Aline smiled. “Now you’re authorized.”

  “I’d probably crash it or something.”

  Aline shrugged. “I wouldn’t let you do it on your own.”

  “Aren’t you afraid I could steal it?”

  Aline had a puzzled expression. “You’re Sian’s friend. I doubt you’re an idiot.”

  This was good. Karina wanted to know more about him, and it was lucky that the girl had started the topic. “Does being his friend prevent stupidity?

  Aline looked up as if thinking. “Now that you say it. I don’t know.” She laughed. “Sometimes… Joel… I want to strangle him. Not that I’d do it. No. It’s just. Yeah, you can definitely be Sian’s friend and be an idiot. At least sometimes. But that doesn’t mean you’re going to steal from one of the most powerful, uh, merchants, in this continent.”

  “So you’re a merchant?”

  “My parents. I guess I’ll become one. Perhaps I’m already one. I don’t know. Getting entangled in more than just business, I think. I do like flying, and flying incognito more than anything. High risk, high rewards.”

  “That’s nice.”

  Karina realized that the girl or her parents were probably involved in some shady business, but she didn’t want to comment on that or ask any indelicate question. It turned out that asking wasn’t needed. Aline was so talkative that she started to explain how their parents started their business by bringing some kind of plant from across the ocean. Karina wondered if it was the Atlantic Ocean and if their geography was comparable to Earth’s. She’d need a world map. Sian could probably get her one. The thought somehow filled Karina with sadness because she imagined he’d be happy to discuss a world map with her, and somehow it hurt Karina that it would be as friends or acquaintances or whatever and nothing more.

  Aline continued talking about avoiding paying taxes, bringing forbidden items, escaping the army. She thought it was funny. Well, it sounded very exciting, even if illegal.

  After the girl had talked and talked, Karina risked a question, “Does Joel know all that?”

  Aline had a puzzled expression on her face. “Well, I mean…” She narrowed her eyes. “How long have you known Sian?”

  Oh, great. Karina hoped the girl wouldn’t inquire much or expect her to also tell the story of her life. “A little over a year.”

  “Oh. Right. I’ve never seen you. But it’s fine. It’s fine. I’m not going to ask anything.”

  Aline shook her head. She was obviously dying to know more about Karina.

  Well, a little bit of truth couldn’t hurt. “I come from far away, and I didn’t see him in the last year. I don’t know him that well, to be honest. Maybe you could tell me about him?”

  Aline looked straight ahead. “Yeah, well, I mean, what’s there to know, right? Do you want to get Joel? I’m getting a little tired. Also, I think Georgia and Matheo might have some snacks.”

  And with that, Karina was kicked out of the cockpit. Not literally kicked out, but strongly encouraged to go to the back, which she did. She called Joel and sat down at the table where there was indeed some kind of finger food.

  They landed about an hour later. Karina took her bag and descended the back ramp. The weather was chilly and humid and reminded Karina of when she’d come with Cayla and Darian, and that she hadn’t worn any jacket at the time. This time she was dressed for the weather but she still felt a chill in her stomach. Sian and Raja were already there, waiting for them. Sian no longer wore his green coat and had a long black hooded overcoat instead. He watched as everyone disembarked.

  The area around them was a well-tended green lawn surrounded by trees. As they crossed the trees Karina saw a valley and something that filled her with dread; the black square building on a hill above a beautiful garden. Being among a group of people eased her dread—at least a little. Sian’s idea to assemble a team made a lot of sense. They were in the opposite direction from which she’d come with Cayla and Darian, on the other side of the castle.

  As they walked, Karina’s feelings started to change, as she realized she was a little excited at the thought of visiting and staying in a strange, mysterious place, of which they’d learn the secrets. Perhaps it was indeed as Aline had said; high risks, high rewards.

  The castle was a rectangular building with smooth black walls that looked like ceramic. Up close, it was a lot bigger than what Karina had imagined, and even though it was wider than tall, it was as tall as an eight or ten-storey building. The entrance to the castle was a little underwhelming, though. It was a small door the same black color in a corner, barely visible. Sian had a key and opened it. They all entered a dark corridor. Everyone had some kind of light, except Karina, of course, but she was near Aline. At the end of the corridor, they came to a gigantic hall.

  If the exterior of the castle was simple and plain, it was a stark contrast to the interior. The hall was tall, with golden columns, and a golden staircase leading to the upper floors, which had balconies overlooking the hall. The ceiling had a colorful painting with too many details to be registered all at once. There was a sun, a moon, some scenes of war, a couple, something that looked like far
mers, and more. Not very clear from such a distance, which defeated the purpose of a painting on the ceiling. But hey, Karina was no artist or interior decorator. The floor was white and sparkly. A black, huge, rough stone stood in the middle of the hall.

  Sian said, “Follow me.”

  They went up the stairs, and then up the stairs again, to the third floor, and came to a row of doors, which were bedrooms.

  Sian pointed to the first one. “This is for me.” He pointed to the door next to it. “This is for Raja and Karina”. Then the next one, “Aline and Joel”, and the next one, “Georgia and Matheo”. He turned to them all. “We have to wait until they prepare our rooms.”

  Georgia and Matheo nodded and turned to descend the stairs, probably to pick up the stuff they’d brought.

  “I’ll help them,” Aline said, and turned to follow them.

  Joel held her hand. “Wait.”

  Aline slapped his hand. “I want to help, I’m going to help.” She descended the stairs and joined the couple. Joel looked down.

  Yeah, it would be nice to help, except that nobody else was helping and Karina thought that it would be sexist if only girls helped. Or maybe she was lazy.

  Sian said, “We can wait downstairs. There’s a nice sitting room.”

  They went to the second floor, not downstairs, really downstairs, as Karina had imagined. There was a huge room with windows overlooking the valley. That was weird since no windows were seen from the outside. The place had some couches on one corner, as well as some harp-looking instruments. The opposite side had furniture covered with dark sheets.

  Sian was beside her. “We’re going to clean it all up, don’t worry.” He turned to everyone and spoke more loudly. “The main rule here at Darloom is: don’t go anywhere alone. Anywhere.”

  It made sense. Oh, wait, it didn’t. Karina asked Sian, “Why are you sleeping alone then?”

  Sian looked at her and paused as if examining her. “You’re curious. Not worried, right?”

  Both actually, but she wasn’t going to say it. “It’s just contradictory, that’s all.”

  “I know the castle, Karina.”

  She whispered, “Really well. Especially the garden, since you spent so long there.”

  He smirked. “I don’t plan to sleep outdoors.”

  “Awesome. And if you don’t come out of your room, how long can we wait until we figure you’re dead or something?”

  “Just knock. I’ll answer. The rooms are safe.” He stared at her. “Come. I have something to show you. I was going to wait, but…” He turned to Joel and Raja. “We’ll be right back. Don’t split up.”

  Sian led Karina up the stairs, to the fourth floor. She was making a mental effort not to feel giddy that she was alone with Sian again. She tried to remember some physics formulas and keep her mind away. But no, she had to focus on whatever secrets the castle held. Sian was keeping something—perhaps a lot—from her, and she had to pay attention. To the castle, not to Sian. The fourth floor was like the others, and they came to a door that was not in the same position as the doors to the bedrooms and the living room. Sian opened it with a large key and revealed had a dark hallway leading away from the center of the castle.

  He turned to her. “It’s better not to use any light here.”

  As if she had any. Karina hesitated. She couldn’t see the end of the hall.

  He said, “It’s safe. I’ve been here many times.”

  Karina didn’t want to be a child afraid of the dark, so she nodded. He entered the hallway and she followed. She wished she could hold his hand, and this time it wasn’t silly crush girl thinking, just scared Karina. Of course, she’d rather die of fright then reach for his hand. The corridor had a soft turn and she bumped on the wall. Some purple light came from the end of it.

  They came to a medium hexagonal room. It had a purple glow, but it didn’t come from any particular point, it was as if it was coming from the air itself. In each wall there was a circular mirror, and Karina was greeted with infinite reflections of her and Sian. The middle of the room had what looked like a well. Karina stepped closer and looked. It was indeed a well, but she wasn’t sure if there was water inside or not. She felt a pair of hands around her waist pulling her back.

  Karina turned, and Sian let go of her. “Better not get close,” he said.

  She tried to get over the shock of their first physical contact other than holding hands for teleporting. She wondered if he realized that he’d touched her for the first time. Probably not. She forced her mind back to the topic that really mattered. “What is this place? This well?”

  “This room concentrates the power of the castle. It’s here that we’re going to find the answers. I hope you’ll help me.”

  Karina looked around, unsure of what kind of answers she could find in a bare room. She also had other questions that perhaps should have been asked long before. “How do you know all that? How do you have the keys? Why did you come here in the first place?”

  He put a finger over his lips. “Later.”

  “But you’ll answer, right?”

  He nodded and walked towards the hall, gesturing for her to follow him. That dark hall again, then the door, then back to the middle of the castle, from where she could overlook the main hall downstairs. Karina still felt his touch on her waist. Her pathetic scale was going to explode. She had to prioritize. Prioritize; solve whatever was happening in the castle, find a way home, then get out.

  14

  The Castle

  Karina’s outside impression had been correct. The castle had seven floors, each with high ceilings. They spent the day in the common room on the second floor. She played hearts and matters with Aline, while the others went somewhere. The girl was a good player, or else Karina’s beginner’s luck was wearing out. The pieces were spread on the board, and the game was even. Karina had no clue who would win. The girl was silent now, concentrated on the game, or else pretending to be. Karina wasn’t sure how to start a conversation, but she had to start a conversation.

  She tried, “How long have you and Joel been together?”

  Aline lifted her eyes from the board. “Two years.”

  “That’s a lot. For my friends, three months is an eternity.”

  The girl had her eyes back on the board. “I guess it’s normal when you’re young.”

  Karina sighed and looked around. They were alone. “Do you know what we’re doing in this castle?”

  “I came just to keep Joel company.”

  Karina had the feeling that the girl wasn’t allowed to tell her certain things, or else she didn’t know. She tried. “But this is called a lost castle, with magic and all. Aren’t you afraid?”

  Aline shrugged. “I never bought into the whole ‘magic is evil’ thing. I don’t see why I’d do it now.” She took one of Karina’s pieces and rolled it between her fingers.

  Hey, screw secret. If Karina wanted to find out anything, she’d have to give something first. “Do you know what Kyons are?”

  Aline shook her head. Okay, the explanation was going to be more complicated than Karina predicted. “They’re these really ugly, grey things, and they—”

  Aline nudged her head sideways. Sian entered the room. Alone. Why was she so worried that he wasn’t being cautious? Or was she just wondering why he wasn’t being cautious? Raja and Joel stepped in a few seconds after. Fine, so he wasn’t alone.

  Raja said, “It’s lunchtime!”

  Aline grimaced. “Now? We’re almost finished.”

  Huh? No. They were far from finished unless she was planning on some striking moves. Was Karina really going to lose?

  Joel laughed. “It’s not like anyone will touch the board while you’re gone, you know?”

  “We can wait,” Sian said.

  He pulled a chair and sat by their table, looking attentively at the pieces. He had no overcoat this time and wore a long-sleeved black shirt with a high collar. For sure one of the boxes Georgia and Matheo carrie
d had to be his wardrobe.

  Joel sat at a couch, and Raja sat at a table away from them, staring at the window.

  Aline moved one her pieces.

  With Sian watching, Karina’s mind went blank. Somebody could try to do an experiment. There should be a scientific way to determine how stupid a crush could make someone. Of course, the logistics of the experiment would be hard because nobody would confess their crushes. Maybe they could try with really attractive people? Oh, well, Karina wasn’t planning on becoming a social scientist, so she’d never know.

  Karina stared at the board. Since she couldn’t think, she made the most obvious move. Her mind was telling her it was a trap, but she couldn’t see it, and it seemed logical. She didn’t want to miss such an obvious opening. But it was obviously a trap. No surprise, Aline beat her in four more moves, as Karina kept making stupid mistake after stupid mistake. Awesome. Sian was going to think she was dumb. Not that it mattered. Aline got up. Sian still examined the pieces and the board.

  Raja asked, “Are you coming or not?”

  “We’ll catch up,” Sian said.

  We. Karina swallowed. Up to now, she still hadn’t succeeded in repressing physical symptoms at the mere idea of being alone with Sian. She crossed her arms and leaned back, afraid of what he’d glean from her. Sian raised his eyes from the board to Karina, examining her with the same intensity. She stared back, as unfazed as she could, thankful that her crossed arms prevented her trembling from being visible.

  “Why did you do that?” he asked.

  “What?”

  He smirked. “You let her win.”

  Actually no. You sit near me and all logical reasoning escapes my mind would have been the honest reply, but she wasn’t into honesty right then. Instead, she asked, “What makes you think that?”

  “Observation.”

  At least he didn’t think she was dumb. Maybe she should be flattered. But she had other concerns. “Are you going to tell me about the castle, or are we going to pretend this is a vacation?”