Nia continues walking towards the castle, looking over her shoulder in case Flip comes from behind. While doing so, she bumps into the leaves of a large olive tree, with several of the fruits falling to the ground.

She hastily picks them up and puts them to the side of the walkway, making sure they won’t be stepped on. Making sure nobody else is around, she pulls out her playing card and Mr. Cash’s note explaining her tasks on arrival.

‘I’ve been doing the first two well so far, hopefully, being kind to the other guests does not include having to interact with them too much.’

Hearing winds whistling through the palm trees, she places the card and note back into her purse and starts walking once more. She turns a bend and nearly falls over in surprise at the magnificent building before her.

Cash’s castle is enormous, overlooking the sea in an imposing manner. Each of its eight towers seems to stare out at the incoming storm and stand its ground in defiance. Gargoyles and unicorns guard the North, South, East, and West. A mosaic painting at the front portrays star constellations sitting around a table playing cards with one another. Empty bird nests sat over the chimneys, waiting for the next boarder to come down and make their homes again, while previous avian tenants’ droppings lay across the top, looking like pearl necklaces. This castle is the definition of serendipity; everything both good and bad adds to the charm.

Lost in awe, she becomes alert to a gate clanging open. A man in a tuxedo with a cape walks toward her. He is bald, and thin, smiling as if this is his first time doing so.

Guarding her purse and luggage, she greets him.

“Greetings mademoiselle, my name is Chav, Mr. Cash’s butler.” The man says. “You are one of the four, I presume? May I see your card, please?”

Nia pulls out her ace of clubs, holding a tight grip in case he’s a thief.

Chav does not protest, looks it over, and then nods.

“You may enter the castle, Miss Nia Winters. Please enjoy your stay.”

While saying this, he reaches for her luggage, which she grabs like she’s protecting something precious.

“Thank you.” Nia says, “I will take my bags to my room.”

Startled, but yielding, Chav obliges.

“Very well, I will show you through the castle.”

Nia enters, but not before taking a deep breath.