Cain then treads lightly over to the exit door and hands me his lighter to hold. I keep my eyes on Amelia, willing her to send me some signal of approval, but she keeps her eyes fully focused on Cain. He uses his entire body to push the door as he turns the knob, hoping to be as quiet as possible. The door sticks at first and my heart stops, thinking we’re now trapped in this dark room. However, after some finessing from Cain, the door swings open and I finally exhale.

Amelia and I follow him out into the night air, finding ourselves in the back of the inn. A quick check confirms we’re alone out here. So, hoping the Wanderers are still occupied searching through room eight, we creep along the back of the inn toward the front parking lot.

“Well, you’ve earned the right to learn the true power of the Wanderers, if you still want to hear it,” Cain whispers as we stride forward.

Obviously our priority needs to be making a clean getaway, but I figure it also couldn’t hurt to learn as much as possible before we escape. Amelia seems to think the same, since neither of us protest.

“Perilli made his decks as an artist and a teacher, but also a prophet,” Cain continues. “He believed his cards could unlock hidden potential within those who read with them. He also gave each Corner different wisdom, so only we faithful Wanderers know this: Perilli made his decks and hid cards to seek out the worthy, who must be called to face a time of sharp growth. Wanderers believe Perilli’s cards provide the answers to grow through struggle, through an age of peril.”

Hearing Cain, half of me thinks this just sounds like the stuff of mythology, or science fiction. Or the kind of charismatic fear-mongering that breeds loyal followers. However, the other half of me recognizes an idea Gran Flo herself always repeated: The fluid truth of the tarot is a tool to unlock what you truly think of yourself—and what you need to do next. Looking to Amelia, I can tell she senses all of this as well. And that she has something to say, finally.

“Cain, do you really believe your dad is—” Amelia begins, before pausing to change tack. “Do you really believe this card will change anything?”

Cain looks over at Amelia, trying to maintain as much eye contact as possible as we reach the end of the inn’s sidelong stretch.