“I hoped you’d keep an eye out for something in the Castle,” Sophia began, then explained to the housekeeper what she was looking for.
Trin seemed perplexed at first after Sophia finished. “Fifth floor, you say? I didn’t know there was one.”
Sophia nodded. “Yeah. How are you getting on with the Castle? It seems like things have improved. Meals are really good.”
The portion of Trin’s face covered in skin blushed slightly. “Thank you. I can’t say I ever expected to be a housekeeper, let alone one for a sentient Castle, but the work is very rewarding and on most days, calming.”
“That’s great.” Sophia was impressed. “I don’t think Ainsley took to it quite that easily. I saw her cursing at the Castle on many occasions.”
Trin nodded. “Oh, I get that. There are still days where I don’t understand why it does the stuff it does or how. I think once I do begin to get something, that it’s going to change.”
Sophia laughed. “That seems about right. There are many mysteries and secrets to unravel about this place, and it will change as new and different personalities enter. It takes on the desires and thoughts of each person and reacts. There was no electricity or technology in here before I entered.”
“That’s hard to believe.” Trin looked around at the many different lights and electronic functions in the open area. “Anyway, your timing on asking about this is incredible. Just now, when I was dusting up there, I found this strange piece that wasn’t there the last time. I would have noticed it.”
“Why is that?” Sophia’s heart suddenly raced with excitement.
Trin withdrew something small from her pocket. “Because when I set my eyes on it, the object glowed for a moment. It was sitting there on the rafter as if it was waiting to be found.” She indicated the ceiling some twenty feet up before opening her palm to show a small metal object.
Sophia’s eyes narrowed on the small thing while trying to decide what it was. The object resembled a tool of sorts, like the little wrenches IKEA always put in furniture that needed assembly.
When she took the object from Trin, Sophia noticed that it glowed for a moment in her hand and warmed slightly as if greeting her. “What is it?”
Trin shook her head. “I don’t know, but my first thought was that it was a key.”
Sophia tilted her head while thinking. “No, it’s not a key. It’s a part of a key.”
“Huh?” Trin asked.
“Like a puzzle piece that creates a key,” Sophia guessed. “I bet there are four more pieces like this scattered throughout the Castle and I have to find and assemble them.”
A motorized sound echoed from Trin’s neck when she looked up and around the high ceilings. “That could take some time. But it makes sense that it would be a key. That way Lunis could have a private place that no other dragon could get into.”
Sophia nodded, thinking how clever Quiet was. He was going to make them work for it. “Trin, do you think you could help me out? You know, look around as you’re doing your normal activities, now that you know roughly what we’re looking for?”
“Of course,” Trin answered. “Although I bet each of the pieces looks different.”
“Agreed. And putting them all together is probably going to be the real challenge, but if you help me find them, then I’ll do that part. Lunis would be so grateful. He never asks for anything.”
“I’m happy to help, Sophia. I’ve wanted to do something to thank you for getting me this job. As I said, it wasn’t something I ever pictured myself doing, but serving the Dragon Elite has become important to me. After everything I’ve been through, it’s nice to know that I’m working for people who make the world a better place. Not only that, but protect it and are good at their core.”
Sophia smiled wide, so amazed that they’d come this far. Trin was the same person who had poisoned Quiet, invaded the Gullington, battled the Dragon Elite, and stolen dragon eggs. She had her reasons, and she was smart as hell to have been able to do all that. It proved to Sophia that not every enemy had to remain that. Sometimes wars didn’t end with death. Sometimes they ended where both sides were happier for having battled.
“I’m so happy to hear that the position is working out. You don’t owe me anything, but if you’ll keep an eye out and let me know if you find puzzle pieces, that would be awesome. If there’s anything I can do to repay you for your efforts, then I’m happy to.”
Trin’s cyborg eye brightened slightly for a moment. “There is something. I’m not sure if you can help, but if anyone can, it would be you. And I feel strange asking and I wouldn’t, normally. But…well, what do I have to lose at this point…”
Sophia tilted her head, interest written on her face. “Yes?”
“Well, it’s that I’m so bad at these kinds of things and you seem to be a natural,” Trin began. “I tend to overthink things or put up walls, and it’s evident that I’m insecure when it comes to who I am for the obvious reasons.”
“Because you’re stunningly beautiful and brilliant and intimidate people who are insecure at their core?” Sophia pretended to ask.
Trin blushed. “No, but I do have trouble talking to people. That part is true.”
“This is about Evan, isn’t it?” Sophia tried to sound sensitive and hoped she was right and hadn’t spoken out of turn.
To her relief, Trin nodded. “He is so good to NO10JO. And he looks at me differently than others.”
“You mean he sees you and not what you are made of?” Sophia offered.
“Yes,” Trin answered. “I didn’t know how I felt until he married that snobbish mortal. Then all of a sudden I was jealous and realized that I liked something about his arrogance which was also mixed with a subtle sensitivity. It’s a nice combination, at least to me.”
“I think it takes a special person to appreciate Evan,” Sophia teased. “But I’d agree that he’s a good guy, just never ever tell him that I said that or I’ll never hear the end of it.”
Trin laughed, but she was definitely still uncomfortable on this whole subject. “I know that Evan marrying that mortal was none of my business. And I tried not to let it bother me. But he was so flippant and she was so awful.”
Sophia twisted her mouth to the side. “That whole thing was my fault, though. I sort of forced him to do it, but it was purely for business reasons. Evan doesn’t have any feelings for Tiffannee. I promise.”
“I’m glad it happened because it brought my true emotions to the surface. I didn’t think I was capable of having feelings for someone again,” Trin explained. “I guess I thought they’d been extracted from me with many of my organs. But Evan makes me laugh, and when I do, I forget that I’m not completely human. For the first time, I feel normal when he’s around.”
Sophia’s heart suddenly warmed. She was tempted to tell Trin that Evan had feelings for her, but that wasn’t her place. These two were tough, but that simply meant getting them together might be tricky. Trin had high walls, and Evan was overly flippant at times but deep down incredibly insecure and sensitive. “I’m happy to help. What can I do?”