The Magic Collector by Clayton Wood

Author:Clayton Wood [Wood, Clayton]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781948497978
Published: 2019-07-07T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 27

Piper sat at the edge of his bed in his small room in the eastern wing of Castle Under, watching as Kendra smoothed non-existent wrinkles from the silky black cloak she’d been given. The Cloak of Ascension, the official garment worn by those who had earned the right to ascend to the great upside-down castle in the sky. Kendra’s work at Blackthorne – fifteen years of faithful service – had finally paid off. She smiled at him, giving him a little twirl.

“What do you think?” she asked.

“It’s a robe,” he answered.

“Come on,” she complained. “I worked hard for this, Piper.”

“I know, I know,” Piper conceded. “I’m happy for you hon.”

“Are you?”

“I mean, I’m happy you’re happy,” he clarified. “It’s just…you know what I think about all this crap,” he added, gesturing at the robe. The cloak, rather.

“Pomp and circumstance?” she inquired, arching an eyebrow.

“Where I come from we call it ‘bullshit,’” he groused.

“Well now, usually I’m the killjoy,” she mused. “Honey, I think I’m rubbing off on you.”

He gave her a wicked grin.

“I’m all for that,” he told her. She rolled her eyes.

“Later.”

“That a promise?” he pressed, standing up from the bed and sauntering toward her. He used his best swagger, reaching up to cup the sides of her face in his hands.

“Depends on what character you’ll be playing,” she replied with a smile of her own. He leaned in, kissing her gently.

“I was thinking of playing myself,” he admitted.

“Oh,” she mumbled, lowering her gaze.

“Really? Wow.”

She broke out into a smirk, lifting her gaze to his.

“You’re not the only one who can act, you know,” she teased. “If you’re you, I’m in.”

“If you’re in, it’ll only be a matter of time ‘til I am,” he quipped with a mischievous grin. She ignored him, leaning in to kiss him again. Piper savored the moment. It was, for that brief moment, like old times. But eventually Kendra pulled away, giving him an apologetic look.

“I gotta go,” she told him. “Don’t want to keep the Collector waiting.”

“Alright.”

“See you soon,” she promised.

And with that, she gave him one last kiss, then left.

* * *

Kendra followed the Collector as he guided her ever forward and upward through the maze-like corridors of the Castle Under, the marble floors cool under her bare feet. She felt rather naked in the silky black cloak he’d given her to wear, though it covered her from the neck down. It was all she’d been allowed to wear, the thin fabric unable to hold back the slight chill in the air. But she hardly minded. After all, the Cloak of Ascension was the mantle of those who had earned the right to work within the mysterious halls of the Castle Over, the upside-down castle. And after so many years, she’d finally joined their hallowed ranks.

It gave her goosebumps.

She smiled to herself, staring at the Collector’s back as he led her up yet another flight of stairs. He strode with utter confidence, wearing his usual black suit. She’d never seen him wear anything else, she realized.

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