I stepped into what at first glance appeared to be an empty room with gray walls and blue carpet. The single window lets in dim light through the faded red curtains. Goldie walked past me and pulled the curtain open, illuminating the room. That's when I noticed a small box attached to one wall.
Goldie moved in front of the box, then pulled it down, revealing a flat surface that she propped up like a desk. On the wall behind the platform she'd lowered was a stack of paper and pens.
"Letters?" It seemed odd that the only way to communicate was by writing letters. "Isn't there anything faster?"
"This is fast," Goldie said. "Write what you want to say, address it on the page, and close the box. It shows up on their end right away. Not as fast as telephones, but we've never done well with that sort of technology. Magic seems to have a way of shorting it out."
"How come you can still use magic like this, but the rest seems gone?" I asked.
"It's not powered by the person using it." Goldie shrugged. "I'm not sure how it works, but the box itself is what has the magic. Most magical households have this setup. We call it the messenger. Not a very creative name, but it gets the point across."
Goldie took a pen out and folded a piece of paper in half. She wrote my aunt's name and address on the top, then opened it like a greeting card. "Write what you want to ask inside, then we'll send it."
I took the pen from Goldie and looked down at the blank page. What if Kay didn't answer me? I was a bit hurt by the fact that she was backing out of helping the Rose Circus so easily. It wasn't just about helping the Fae get home. It was also about me not being killed by Terra. As long as Terra was alive, I was at risk. Didn't my aunt care at all? What was all that talk about how she'd been protecting me all these years?
I tapped the pen against the desk, then twirled it in my hands for a few minutes trying to figure out how to begin a conversation with her. Should I ask about her well being? Should I mention the battle?
Finally, I decided that I'd get right to the point. Kay had hurt me by refusing to help, but if there was anything she could share with me to help Ryder, I wanted to know.
Terra has Ryder. Is there anything I should know before I rescue him? Ara.
I read the words several times before setting down the pen and folding over the paper. "All done."
"Put it back in the box, then close it." Goldie moved the pen away from the shelf, returning it to the container that held several pens on the wall.
Unsure of what to expect, I set the letter down and lifted the desk space I had been using to write on. The panel clicked when it made contact with the rest of the box that was protruding from the wall. Curious, I pulled it back open again. The paper was already gone. "That's fast."
Goldie nodded. "We can wait here to see if she replies before we get to Denver."
As the minutes ticked by, I wondered if I was making a bigger deal out of this than I should have. Would my time have been better spent resting? Did it matter if Ryder had any magic? Would he even care? I started pacing the small room. There had been too much waiting lately. Waiting to see if the Sayges would help us. Waiting to see if Brenon would wake up.
Click.
"Was that?" I walked over to the box.
Goldie was still standing in front of it and pulled the shelf down to reveal a folded piece of paper that looked almost the same as the one I'd sent. The only difference is that this one had my name, and the words Rose Circus written on it.
I took a deep breath as I opened the letter, not sure what I should expect. Her writing seemed rushed despite the long wait for her reply.
Trauma can sometimes induce hidden power. Ryder was never tested. Magical abilities unknown. Kay is under house arrest. Maggie's in Denver.
Good luck. Adam
Hands trembling, I handed the letter to Goldie. My aunt was in trouble with the Sayges. Had she tried to help me?
I had hoped that hearing from her would make me feel better, but now I felt worse. The letter didn't solve anything. It left me with more questions and more unknowns. I thought back to when I had first used my magic. It was in response to Terra's attack on me. I hadn't had any signs of magic when Jack tortured me at Terra's command. How much trauma did it take? If Ryder had any hidden magic, would he be able to find a way to use it?
"Does this mean your aunt tried to come help you?" Goldie asked.
"I don't know. But after we save Ryder and Gia, we're going to find out." I pointed to the last line of the letter. "Looks like you might have an extra hand with the iron dust if Maggie finds us."
"She the unstable one with the baseball bat?" Goldie asked.
I smiled. "Yeah, that's her."
Chapter 28
We waited in Goldie's room. Occasionally, Joe or Goldie would attempt to engage in small talk, but it didn't last long. All I could think about was the upcoming rescue. I had to find my brother and Gia and get them away from Terra. But my mission was nothing compared to what Goldie was going to attempt.
"I wish I could help you more," I said to her.
"You know you can't," Goldie said. "You're doing your job. You're going after your brother and Gia. Besides, Joe's going to help. We'll be fine. When this is all over, we'll celebrate."
Forcing a smile, I nodded. It would be nice not to have Terra trying to kill me.
The time in the train seemed to drag. Finally, the familiar jolt of the train coming to a stop rattled the sides of the train car. Goldie's chandelier jingled as the crystals knocked into one another.
With a deep breath, the three of us silently stood and made our way to the dining car where we'd be meeting up with the rest of the Circus. It was time.
I looked around the dining car for Brenon and didn't see him. Then I remembered he was probably looking for me in his room. Turning around, I made my way to the door just in time to see him walking past. He looked tense, but when he spotted me, he visibly relaxed. He shook his head as he approached. "Couldn't just take a nap?"
"Sorry, got distracted." I pulled out the letter and handed it to him.
He frowned as he read it. "Seems like someone higher up may have struck a deal with Terra. I wondered why the Sayges wouldn't agree to help again. They have a reputation for finishing what they start. It's not like them to back down."
He handed me back the paper. "Do you think Kay's in danger?"
"I don't know," Brenon said. "I'm not familiar enough with Sayge rules."
Worrying about my aunt was difficult for me. For so long, I'd seen her as a villain. The woman who wanted nothing to do with me and had cut Ryder and me out as soon as our parents died. I'd thought she was after the money, but now I wasn't sure. If she was trying to protect me, didn't I owe her something? Wasn't that how it worked in the magical world? "I want to check on her when this is over."
Brenon nodded. "It will be our first stop."
"Thanks." I wondered about the other Sayges I'd met. Adam had written the note, so he was still free. Had Maggie snuck out to help us? I held the paper up. "Maggie will be an asset in there to help Goldie."