Sleep with the Lights On ✔️

10. Enchanted Castle

Shadows and smoke gathered in front of Fion, taking the shape of a steam engine. Its surface swirling and smoking. Fion rocked back on her heels as she glanced over at Peros and Cassie. They stood close together, there was a knot in Cassie's stomach. A knot of all the feelings about Peros; His insisting on coming along, his disregard for his own life, his interest in hers, it all irked her. She stole a quick look at Peros, he looked just as wary as her.

Peros grasped for Cassie's hand and held it tight. He stared at the locomotive and squeezed Cassie's hand. A small wave of warmth passed through them, Cassie looked into his face but he refused to make eye contact.

"Come along now." Fion called from the train.

"Are you sure you want to come?" Cassie asked as they approached the train.

"Yes." Peros replied. His face was completely blank, his hand still holding hers. Cassie took a deep breath. Everything is going to be okay, she told herself.

They sat with Fion in the steam engine, the inside was less wispy but the changing surface and mist of the train reminded Cassie of dreaming. The train felt like the shadow Terrors from her nightmares. She bit her lip and squeezed Peros' hand, digging her nails into his hand. Peros didn't wince or flinch from her grip, he continued staring straight ahead.

"You look panicked!" Fion said, with a concerned expression.

"Just, remembering something." Cassie muttered. Fion pursed her lips and raised her eyebrows. She was draped over the seat like an actress, her ankles crossed and arm on the back of the seat. She flicked a finger and the train jerked into motion.

The ghostly train flew down streets of the ruined city, Cassie watched the gnarled and crumblings as they flew by in a grey blur. She loosened her grip on Peros, she was being paranoid; the dreams were over and the Nymph still hadn't found her. She was safe, even safer now that she was with people who were going to help her.

Peros stared at Fion, she hadn't attempted to make eye contact since she arrived. He knew she was hiding something, and her cool insistence on ignoring him proved it. He felt Cassie's grip tighten and finally loosen, she was scared but she trusted Fion ... for some reason. Peros furrowed his brows and looked out the window, they were nearing the edge of the city almost on the wastes. The warmth that spread through him from holding Cassie's hand grew hotter. Is this where sharing heat turns to taking it? He wondered, his heart started to beat louder, the cold on the edges of his consciousness began to retreat. He pulled his hand away from Cassie in shame. Yes, that was where the line is crossed, and he had enjoyed it. The cold wasn't returning instantly, as it had in the past. She was deep in thought, he watched the shadows under her eyes. He had almost done it, He'd almost siphoned her. He clasped his hands together and moved down the bench, away from Cassie.

The locomotive pulled to a stop in front of a mansion. "Everything you need will be in the rooms provided" Fion said, smiling at Cassie. "You will be called for a meal and you will start lessons tomorrow."

"Start lessons?" Cassie asked.

"To teach you the set of skills necessary to survive in the underworld." Fion said.

"Will I be able to find a way home with these lessons?" Cassie asked.

"Possibly." Fion said, winking. Cassie looked to Peros.

"I thought you had given up on trying to get home." He said. He was staring blankly over her head.

"I thought you'd given up on living. I know its not probable but I'm not going to completely give up on getting back." Cassie said, she wasn't ready to accept that she'd be trapped and hunted in the underworld forever.