Kissing Magic

by Day Leitao

  “Raja? I thought Alessa—”

  “It’s just sleeping. Raja can do it.”

  Karina and Raja got to the bedroom.

  Raja sat on the lower bed, looking disgruntled. “Are you sure you don’t want to go back there? We could dance. You don’t have to sit with those boring people. You can’t be tired.”

  “You weren’t chased by faceless forms. I was. I want to go to that castle, get it all settled, and go home.” Karina held the ladder to go up to her top bunk.

  “What about Sian?” Raja asked.

  Karina tried to sound casual. “What about him?”

  “You know what I mean.”

  “I don’t.”

  Raja smiled. “You’re gonna tell me you don’t think he’s cute?”

  “Didn’t notice.”

  “Fine, then.”

  Karina went up to her bed, lay down and closed her eyes. At least she had comfortable clothes but that was her only comfort. Alone at night, lying down, it was as if everything had been magnified. She’d been so stupid, falling for Sian. All she hoped now was to solve the problem with the Darloom castle soon and then go home. On the other hand, a part of her didn’t want to leave Whyland. She liked to spend time with Sian, and she thought that maybe, maybe, if they spent more time together…

  A voice in her head said, “Out of all the girls in the Junction, he sat with you.” Then another voice replied, “Cause he had to, silly.” Awesome inner arguments. She had to make that hopeful voice shut up because it was what had gotten her in trouble in the first place. She remembered his quick look of horror or disgust as she watched him whispering in his friend’s ear. Humiliating. What she really wanted was to wash away her feelings, turn back time, and think of Sian only as the slightly annoying and not very good-looking mischievous brother of her friend’s boyfriend. But then, when she stopped to think about it, was there a time when she hadn’t been, at least a little, interested in him? Ugh. She’d been fascinated with him from the moment she first saw him. She’d told herself he was weird. Weird were her feelings. And now she’d have to deal with them.

  12

  Nightmare

  Karina was walking in a dark cave until she came to a bifurcation with many different tunnels, and she felt lost. She then heard two voices calling her: Cayla’s and Sian’s. They came from different tunnels. Karina had to choose and decided to go in Sian’s direction. Cayla’s voice faded. Sian was sitting on a throne. Below him, horrid creatures, similar to Kyons, but with wings like bat wings, and with real, red eyes. She wanted to turn around and run, but she was afraid. Sian got up and walked to her direction.

  He held her hands. “I’m here. Don’t be afraid.”

  Even in that place, among those horrid creatures, she felt safe. But his hands started to get slimy like the Kyon’s. His eyes became entirely black, and some yellow goo started to seep from his skin, which was becoming rough and grey. Karina tried to pull her hands, but she couldn’t. She screamed.

  Karina sat up—and hit her head on the ceiling. She was in the hostel bedroom, on the top bunk bed. The room was dark. It had been just a bad dream but it felt so real she could almost still feel the slime on her hands and arms sending unpleasant chills through her body. The door of the bedroom burst open. Sian was there. It was almost as if her dream was becoming real. She screamed again. He dashed up to her bed.

  “What’s happening?”

  She looked at his face, and it was his normal face, and it was him, not some creature in a dream, and still, she was trembling.

  He looked around. “Where is it?”

  Karina finally was able to speak. “It’s nothing. It was a dream. Sorry.”

  He closed his eyes and exhaled slowly. “You screamed when I walked in.”

  “The door burst open. I just—”

  He looked down, seeming almost apologetic. “How was I supposed to come in?”

  Karina sighed. “It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have screamed in the first place.”

  “Not your fault. You were dreaming.”

  Raja’s voice came from the bottom bed. “What’s going on?”

  Sian looked down at the bottom bed. “Great job, Raja. One thing I ask you to do and you can’t—”

  “Maybe you should be glad I let you play the hero,” Raja said.

  “We’ll talk later,” he said. He then addressed Karina. “I bet you won’t be able to sleep now, will you?”

  Karina was still feeling a little scared of him, but she shook her head.

  “Come,” he said. “I’ll get you some tea. You’ll feel better.”

  The prospect of following him down to a dark kitchen, only the two of them, seemed terrifying because she still had the impression he would turn into a monster at any minute—or worse, make her feel stupid for having a crush on him. But then, it was true that she wouldn’t be able to sleep.

  Karina got up and followed him. He wore loose pants and a tunic in what looked like unbleached cotton. That looked comfortable and was a nice contrast to his dark hair. Stop looking, Karina.

  Karina leaned on the counter while Sian worked on the stove. There was no fire, just a flat surface where he put what looked like a kettle with water. He then took it out and put in a metallic recipient with some herbs in it. It smelled relaxing, almost like lavender, and still, it wasn’t quite lavender, but just something similar. He then poured two cups and they sat. Karina’s hands were shaking.

  “Could you maybe describe it?” he asked.

  “What?”

  “The dream. Sometimes it could have a meaning.”

  All Karina could remember was Sian’s face turning horrible and scary. “No. It was just… pointless stuff, some monsters.” She laughed. “You’ll think I’m a little girl.” Then she rolled her eyes. “Not that it matters.”

  He looked at her with concern. “What kind of monster?”

  You. But she’d rather not say it. First, because she would never, not even under torture, confess that she’d dreamed about him. Second, because he would probably feel hurt, even though she hadn’t scripted her dream. She decided to tell just part of it. “They were, sort of like the kyons, but they had wings like gargoyles, or bats, or dragons.”

  “I know bats, not the other things you said. But it makes sense you’d dream about that, after all you went through.” He looked at her. “I’m here. Don’t be afraid.”

  Shivers went up Karina’s spine. He’d spoken just like in the dream. He reached out his hand and touched her shoulder. Karina shuddered, and he pulled his hand.

  “Sorry,” Karina said.

  He closed her eyes and shook his head. “No need to say that.”

  “Thanks,” she said. “For the tea.”

  He scoffed while still looking away. “It’s all my fault anyways. I’m not doing you any favors.”

  There was an uncomfortable silence. Maybe Karina had to be more logical and stop wanting to go wherever he was. She had to.

  “Sian, maybe I could stay in Siphoria. I could go to the castle and talk to Cayla. I’ll need to find a way back home, you know.”

  He looked at her, looked away, then sighed. “I already apologized.”

  Ugh, bringing that up again. “No, it has nothing to do with… It’s just that maybe it’s not a good idea for me to go where kyons want to find me.” How odd that only now she came to this brilliant conclusion. “And I’ll need to go home.”

  He nodded, still looking away. “Of course.” He turned to her. “You do know that the flowing tower in the Queen’s Castle no longer works, right?”

  She stared at the cup in her hand. “Yes, but…”

  “There’s a flowing tower in the Darloom castle.” He stared at her with attention as if examining her or something. “I mean, sort of. But it’s a portal. And… if we want to take control of that castle you’ll need to be there. You’ll be safe. I promise.”

  “What if you get turned to stone?”

  “Those things don’t happen twice, Kar
ina. I’m ready and I’m prepared this time.” He smirked, and it was a relief to see him getting back to normal. “Plus, you’re my secret weapon.”

  Karina laughed.

  Raja came downstairs. “Am I interrupting something?”

  Sian got up. “You came right on time. I’ll call the others and we’ll leave.”

  Raja frowned. “It’s the middle of the night.”

  “I’m up, Karina’s up. We’ll eat and leave.”

  Raja sat down and put her feet on the table. “Fine.”

  Sian pushed her feet. “Manners. Look who you’re in front of. And we eat at this table.”

  Raja put her feet down but crossed her arms and rolled her eyes.

  “Do you want to stay in Siphoria?” Sian asked Raja. “I’ll get Alessa. I don’t need you.”

  “It’s fine,” Karina said. “Leave her. I also put my feet on the table sometimes. And she didn’t have to wake up just because I had a bad dream.”

  Both Sian and Raja gave her odd looks. Not even Karina understood why she was defending the girl, except that she had always thought that girls should stick together. Sian nodded and went upstairs.

  Raja looked at Karina intently. “You knew he’d listen.”

  Karina just gave the girl a puzzled look.

  Raja rolled her eyes. “You knew he’d listen to you, not to me.”

  “Cause he was angry at you.” Karina wasn’t sure what the girl was implying.

  Raja had a half smirk. “Maybe. Thanks anyway. But you should be shooting dirty looks at me.”

  Bizarre logic. “Why would I do that?”

  Raja sighed. “I’m trying to figure out why you don’t do that.”

  “Okay, then.” Karina looked at the girl. “You don’t like me.”

  “I don’t like your entitled attitude, that’s all.”

  That was new, but Karina wasn’t about to argue. “Thanks for being honest—I guess.”

  Raja had a smile that seemed genuine. “No problem. I am here to be honest any time you want.”

  “Awesome.”

  Karina smiled, even though she didn’t feel like doing it. There was still some tea in Karina’s cup. It was cold, but she sipped it. She didn’t understand Raja and didn’t think that asking would be helpful. Was Raja interested in Sian? Was the girl jealous? Karina wished she had Zoe or Cayla to talk to and bounce some ideas. But then, on a second thought, Cayla was quite clueless, and Zoe would just repeat something she’d read. Karina couldn’t complain, as she never had any decent love advice to anyone other than smiling and nodding. Maybe she’d need to find a mirror and smile and nod to herself.

  Karina was left alone for some minutes and got dressed. There were a couple knocks on the door. She opened to Sian, who was fully dressed but for once wasn’t wearing a long overcoat, just a black shirt over brown pants.

  “Feeling better now?” he asked.

  “Sure.”

  “Good. There’s breakfast downstairs.”

  She’d just had tea, but food would also be good. “Awesome.”

  “There’s something I need to ask you. Joel and Aline, they’re my friends. I trust them, and they’re coming with us. Still, don’t mention the kyons.”

  “Won’t they notice when those things come out of the ground and chase them?”

  Sian blinked slowly and said, “They won’t.”

  “Those are the most oblivious friends anyone can have.”

  Sian had a nice, warm laugh. “I mean the Kyons. They won’t chase any of us.”

  Hang on. What was he saying? “That doesn’t make sense. Wasn’t I in danger?”

  “Kyons are the least of the danger, Karina. There’s something happening with the Darloom castle and we have to settle it. That much my friends know. They don’t know what has happened before, and they don’t need to.”

  Fair enough. But then, maybe not. Karina looked at him. “That’s not honest.”

  He waved a hand. “Pointless details, Karina. Let’s not get bogged down in pointless details.”

  “How can you be so sure the Kyons won’t come back?”

  “When they do, we’ll be prepared. I know what I’m doing.”

  “That’s great because I have no clue exactly what you’re doing. Do you plan on telling me?”

  “I’m telling you. Of course, there’s more to understand. That’s one more reason you need to come with me. Some things we’ll need to figure out together. Some things you’ll need to see.”

  Karina was indeed curious to understand why those creatures had followed her, and hoped to get some answers. She had another question, “And if your friends want to know where I’m from?”

  He raised an eyebrow. “Do you think they’ll grasp it?”

  Karina shrugged. “No idea. They’re not my friends.”

  “I barely grasp it. But don’t worry about it, they won’t ask you anything.”

  “Did you give them orders or something?”

  Sian stared at her for a while, then said, “No, they’re my friends, and they respect my privacy, that’s all.”

  Karina scoffed. “Your privacy.”

  “Yes, Karina, that’s my privacy.” He turned to leave. “Get a jacket. It will be chilly down there.”

  Karina went downstairs, found Aline and Joel at a table, and joined them. Raja also joined them some minutes later.

  Through an open door, Karina saw Malena talking to Sian in a different room. She straightened the collar of a long wool overcoat he wore and looked him up and down as if to check if his clothes were all right. Karina wondered if Malena was a sort of mother figure to him, and to what extent she was responsible for Sian’s sense of style, which perhaps wasn’t as much vanity as Karina had thought. Raja finished quickly and got up to talk to Malena. She hugged the woman really tight.

  Sian came in. “Ready?” he asked them all.

  “What about Liam?” Joel asked.

  “Change of plans,” Sian replied. His voice was dry.

  Malena came in and sat by Karina, addressing her. “Little one, I haven’t forgotten you.” Karina caught Sian’s attentive eyes on her. The woman continued, “I don’t have any gift for you just now, but you’ll have to promise to stop by when you can.”

  Karina was about to say that she wasn’t sure if she’d ever return, but she decided not to mention it. “I will. Thanks.”

  The women held her hands and looked in her eyes. “So young. But you have power. Remember that. Remember. You hold the power.”

  “I will,” Karina replied, uncertain.

  Malena laughed. “You have no clue what I’m talking about, do you?” Karina was about to reply something, but Malena tapped gently on Karina’s face. “No matter. You’ll learn.”

  Karina was wondering how much the woman knew when she heard Raja’s voice saying, “Mom, you’re going to freak her out.”

  Malena snorted. “I doubt it.” She turned to Karina. “You’re passed that stage, aren’t you?”

  Karina nodded but didn’t laugh. Mom? Malena was Raja’s mother? What did that mean? Karina didn’t want to feel jealous because that was stupid, but she felt something knotting inside her.

  They left the hostel and walked in the semi-empty streets of Siphoria. The sun was rising, painting the dark blue sky in streaks of orange, pink and purple, then light blue. Karina wore a jacket but she still felt cold in the early morning weather. They walked in silence, apart from Raja’s yawns. A few blocks from the hostel, two more people joined them; a couple in their mid-twenties with light brown hair. They greeted Sian politely.

  “Are we all flying in my lift?” Aline asked.

  Sian shook his head. “I’ll take mine.”

  Joel laughed. “Do you mean yours? Or that junk?”

  Sian smirked. “If I fly it, it’s no longer junk. My real lift is still detained.” He made a sad face. “Poor thing.” He turned to Aline. “Untraceable, right?”

  “Of course. It used to belong to the—”

  �
��I know,” Sian interrupted. “I was just double checking.”

  Aline looked guilty as if she’d been about to say something she shouldn’t.

  They reached the landing pad where Sian’s lift was.

  “Ours is not here,” Aline said. “We’ll meet you in the south.”

  Joel asked Sian, “Are you going alone?”

  That question had gotten Karina by surprise, as for some reason she’d been sure she’d fly back south with Sian, just as she’d come.

  Sian glanced at Karina then at Joel. “Maybe.” He turned to Karina. “Their lift is nicer.”

  The message was clear. Karina nodded. “I’ll go with them.” She turned to Aline. “If it’s all right.”

  Aline glanced at Sian, then shrugged and opened her arms. “It fits everyone!”

  There was something odd about the way she’d replied, as if she weren’t happy about it. But now Karina didn’t want to suggest going with Sian.

  Aline looked at Karina with a warmer smile. “We’re happy to have you.”

  “See you all later,” Sian said as he turned and opened the metal gate to the pad.

  For a second, Karina wanted to run after him and ask him if she could fly with him. On a pathetic scale, what would that be? 110 out of 100? Get a grip, Karina. They walked away from the pad.

  Raja said, “Wait. Nobody’s coming with Sian?”

  “It’s not a long flight,” Joel replied. “One pilot’s enough.”

  Raja rolled her eyes. “I’m not talking about piloting.” She turned around and ran to the metal gate.

  Great. Now another girl was doing exactly what Karina wished she’d done. Even if Sian had said they had nothing to do with each other, Karina couldn’t forget the image of Malena hugging affectionately them both, she couldn’t forget that Raja was a pretty girl, and she started trembling just forcing herself not to picture what could happen between these two alone for four hours. Was that jealousy? Ugly, nasty feeling indeed. Karina hated the way she felt. She almost wanted to turn back time and go with Sian, humiliation and all, just not to leave him and another girl alone for four hours.