Nina looked up at the darkening clouds and frowned. Despite walking for the better part of an hour, the music was getting only slightly louder and the large castle-like structure in the distance was barely growing larger. With each step, she could feel her exhaustion weighing down on her, and she knew it wouldn't be long until she just collapsed onto the road and curled up right then and there for a much needed nap. Inej was trudging along beside her, and for the first time in all the time Nina had known her, Inej actually looked ungraceful.
"Saints, how much longer?" Nina grumbled.
Inej cast a look towards the sky before answering. "No clue, but hopefully before we get drenched."
As if in response, thunder rumbled above the gray clouds and a flash of lighting lit the sky. One drop fell to the ground. Then another. And a third on Nina's nose, before rain started pouring down on them.
Inej turned to Nina and grimaced. For some reason the expression on the Wraith's face was enough to make Nina cackle. Inej looked back at her strangely, with vague concern, causing Nina's second fit of giggles. After a few moments of Nina in hysterics, Inej's face also lit up with a smile and then rambunctious laughter.
Rain kept pouring on the two of them, leaving them completely soaked in the middle of a dusty road that helped them get no closer. But as their laughter rose, their troubles seemed to melt away from them just like the droplets slipping down their arms.
"What's the joke, ladies?" A rather cocky voice sounded behind them
Inej and Nina both whirled around at the familiar tone, laughter fading away and turning into shock. "Jesper!" They exclaimed in unison.
"The one and only," Jesper's grin was almost as wide as theirs. He was drenched with rain as well, and he was wearing his typical attire—a white shirt with neon green pants and matching suspenders.
"Hey, I'm here too," Wylan peeked out from behind Jesper, his smile broadening.
Nina let out something like a squeal and hugged them both, even turning back to pull in a smiling Inej.
When they all complained about a lack of oxygen, Nina released them, but it didn't dim the grin shining on her face.
"How are you guys here?" Wylan exclaimed.
"Well I blacked out after a particularly rough storm on my ship and somehow ended up on this island," Inej replied.
"I was late to a Triumvirate meeting and then suddenly disappeared and then reappeared here," Nina shrugged.
"I opened my eyes to a crowded street where nobody could see, hear, or smell me," Jeper told them.
"And I woke up in a room full of dolls and puppets," Wylan spoke last. Their faces all looked vaguely disturbed at the idea.
"Well now I like my story," Nina shuddered.
"Have you all noticed the strange magic here? It's nothing like grisha powers...this is something else," Inej wrapped her arms around herself, shivering despite the humid air and warm temperature.
"I know. And 'Caraval Master Legend' seems to be full of tricks," Jesper agreed with Inej's discomfort. At least back home, there was some order to magic. Here, there were no explanations.
"If we're all here...then it is possible some of the other dregs are too? Maybe Kaz?" Wylan asked.
"Yes, as much as I hate to admit it, we may need Brekker with us," Nina sighed.
"We should keep trying to head towards the castle over there. Maybe we'll get more answers. I'm certain that's the place we need to get to," Inej voiced.
When they all agreed, the gang started walking again, down the road and to where many of their questions would be answered.
As Kaz stepped outside the other end of the tunnel, he was immediately soaked by the heavy rain. Kaz drew back slightly in shock at the sudden downpour; from inside of the tunnel, there had been no sign of it, not even a heavy pitter patter on the road in front of him.
Kaz ran a hand through his rain-slicked hair and scanned the area around him. There was a large castle-like structure towering in the near distance. He lightly stroked the crow head of his cane and considered his options. He could take his chances with whoever was in that building or he could walk on in no direction for an indefinite amount of time. The former seemed like the best way to go.
Despite the heavy rain and muddy road, Kaz reached the entry doors to the castle in record time—exactly three minutes according to the pocket watch he'd nicked from the clock shop. He knew he could have likely broken in, but somehow Kaz knew that it would be pointless and time consuming. Something in him was pulling at his hand, tugging at every fiber of him to raise his fist and knock on the door. And before Kaz realized it, that's exactly what he was doing.
Kaz surveyed his traitorous fist as it lowered of its own will. The doors opened so suddenly with so much force that Kaz had to practically leap back, his bad leg giving a sharp twinge of pain in protest. Kaz gave himself a mental shake. He was already sleep deprived as usual, but all the extra stress was really getting to him. What he needed was coffee. And lots of it.
Kaz walked through the doors feeling unusually anxious. A figure appeared in the corner of his eye and Kaz pivoted to see Jordie standing before him. Kaz stumbled a step, stomach lurching with the vision of his dead brother, but the ghostly image was gone in a blink. Kaz physically shook himself this time. What was wrong with him?
"Oh dear, nothing's wrong with you! It's all a game, you know," a voice sweet as candy spoke from the shadows ahead.
Kaz cautiously stepped forward, cane at the ready. "Who are you," The question more like a statement. And how did they know what I was thinking?
A sugar filled laugh sounded as a woman dressed in the brightest shade of every color you could imagine walked into the dim light. Glitter covered her whole body, in various colors that shouldn't have worked together but still did. "Who I am is not important, but here's what is: you're here to play the game. At dawn, the doors all lock and the game begins! Let's hope all your little friends get here in time, no?"
"Friends? Who the hell are you talking about? What is this place?"
Ignoring the first question the lady giggled. "Oh this is the Serpiente House. You have a room that's reserved to you...and a few others."
"Who are these 'others'?" Kaz asked impatiently.
The woman simply mimed zipping up her lips and handed Kaz a jade key before slipping away into the shadows once more.
"What the hell?" Kaz said to the empty space in front of him. He dusted off his coat and steeled himself before navigating the strange 'hotel' to find his room.
Kaz paused outside his room's door and surveyed the area. The halls were completely deserted, but he still felt a presence watching him and hanging onto his every movement. He unlocked the door and stepped over the threshold, waiting only to quickly see if there was an imminent threat inside before closing the door and collapsing into a nearby armchair. His eyes were refusing to stay open and his body was loose, disobeying his commands to move. Kaz slumped forward and forced himself to attempt to concentrate even when the prospect of sleep was ridiculously tempting. A coffee tray materialized on the small table in front of him before his very eyes. By this point, Kaz couldn't even muster shock. The constant random displays of magic had long since numbed over the initial jolt of surprise.
Ignoring the petite silver cup lying next to the large jug of coffee, Kaz simply picked the full jug up and drank it till only a quarter of the original amount was left inside. Almost immediately Kaz felt his senses returning to him, he felt he could run seven consecutive laps, metaphorically of course. Kaz took another few sips of the stimulating beverage, allowing the warmth to seep through him and wake him up.
The door knob on the room's main door jiggled and Kaz leapt up, grabbing his cane and slinking back so that any person entering wouldn't be able to see him until he was in their face with a solid fist and a metal cane. The door opened at not one, but four bodies entered the room. The second he saw their faces, Kaz let himself relax and leave his hiding place.
It was Inej who saw him first. A smile split over her face, making his chest ache with the shine it cast on her. "Kaz!"
The others turned and smiled as well.
"Well Brekker, I guess we're all back together again. I just hope this won't be like the Ice Court job again," Nina plopped herself in one of the chairs.
"Always a pleasure, Zenik."
"Well, does anyone know what the hell we're supposed to do?" Jesper prodded.
Wylan opened his mouth to speak when an envelope slid under the door. Inej picked it up and opened the door to see who had dropped it off, but nobody stood in the hallway. The envelope was identical to the one they had each received when they first came here. Inej slit it open with a small blade, different than the ones she usually carried, and read the contents aloud. "Welcome, welcome to Caraval! Now that you're here, the first night can truly begin. But before I give you your very first clue, there is one rule to remember: it's only a game! Nothing here is real so please, have fun but don't get too swept away. Now for the first clue: look at the second envelope."
"What second envelope?" Wylan asked.
"There. A second one must have been slipped under while we were distracted," Nina pointed to the floor.
Jesper picked up the second envelop and opened it. A dozen rose petals fell out along with a tiny glass key. The number five was etched onto its surface.
"Room five," Kaz observed.
"I suppose that's the first clue, then," Inej peered over Jesper's arm since she was too short to catch any glimpses over his shoulder.
A loud bell rang and they turned to the large clock in the corner. There were no numbers on its face, but rather two words: day and night. The hand had just struck day.
Caraval had begun.