Last Car to Annwn Station Read Online Free PDF Page A

the building, nervously looking over her shoulder, expecting someone to stop her and demand to search her bag at any moment.
    Dear Wall,
    Elise did not notice the writing, even when I stood underneath it to make her look. If Elise can’t see it, then I’m not worried about Chrysandra or “Mother.” Mr. Hodgins is another matter.
    I tried to get another message out at lunch. Someone had placed an arrangement of flowers in the center of the table. I hoped they could be my herald, but Mr. Hodgins saw what I was trying to do and threw them into the fireplace.
    I hate Mr. Hodgins. I hate him for making me wear Chrysandra’s face. I hate him for making me speak in her voice. I hate him for turning me into her twin. I hate that I’m not strong enough to break his magic. Someday I will learn his true name and I will catch him with his iron off of his finger. Someday.
    The silverware is real silver. I’m starting to make a connection with it. I could hear a humming sound coming from it, but I couldn’t tell if it was because of me or them.
    I’m sorry I didn’t write earlier, but Chrysandra stayed in my room all morning. We played and I read to her. Chrysandra is funny at times, and much better than being alone all day. She’s kind of slow-witted and smells, but it was nice having her here.
    They worked on me again. I don’t know why they made me eat dinner if they know I’m going to throw up after their little chant sessions. I got most of my vomit on the red-haired woman, right on her shoes. You’d have thought I’d stomped on the mage’s toes, the way she screamed in panic. I’ll have to remember that. After, Mr. Hodgins called Elise to take me back to my rooms.
    I wish I had a window. I haven’t seen the sun, the grass or a tree in weeks, and I’m starting to get sick from being cut off from the world. They know better than to let me outside.
    Elise and Mr. Hodgins are ever watchful. I heard them outside the door talking about tomorrow. Elise is supposed to make sure I’m presentable at dinner.
    I’d kill Elise and run for it except for the iron ring she wears. I can’t get near her if she doesn’t want me to. They all wear the rings—rings charged with magic against me. My mother’s blood is too strong inside my veins for me to resist their magic.
    Chrysandra seems better today. More like a real girl. She seems almost aware, and the smell is not as strong. They must have freshened her up a bit. I wonder why they would use that much magic on her?
    I wonder how she died?
    Mae dug around in the refrigerator, looking for something quick and easy for dinner. She pulled a can of diet cola and a sealed container of leftover lasagna from the fridge, dished the cold lasagna onto a plate and placed it in the microwave. She hit one of the preprogrammed timers and popped open the soda and took a long drink. The microwave dinged and Mae withdrew the plate of heated lasagna.
    The high ringing of a bell made Mae look outside. She glanced down from her third-floor window to the street below. Parked in front of her building on Lagoon Avenue was one of the yellow streetcars. As she watched the car, its bell rang twice.
    Mae kept her eyes on the streetcar. “I don’t think so.”
    The bells rang again.
    Mae frowned. She knew she shouldn’t but…
    She grabbed her cell phone from the kitchen counter and dropped it into her bag. On impulse, she shoved the copy of the Arneson file into it as well. She shrugged into her coat and picked up her bag. Checking her pocket full of coins, she started downstairs.
    The streetcar was waiting for her, its red front door open. Taking a deep breath and wondering if she was mad, Mae stepped aboard. She dropped her dime into the fare box and took the slip of paper from the conductor, jamming it into her pants pocket.
    Mae turned toward the back of the car, expecting to find an assortment of faerie creatures and animal spirits.
    All she found was Death.
    Death smiled at her, the universe in