Thief: X

by E. I. Jennings,

  “Are you sure we’re in the right place?” Marshall looked puzzled but he had no idea,

  The three of us walked towards the door and I pumped the shotgun. The last time I was here I was greeted with brain hungry Thralls and I had to break a few things. Who knew libraries could be so dangerous? Marshall pulled his gun following my lead. With one hard kick, I kicked the door wide open and prepared for the worse.

  Adram started laughing and I resisted the urge to shoot him in the face. Apparently my attempt at removing the Thralls previously had worked. I was now trying to shoot a group of pre-schoolers singing nursery rhymes,

  “Kindergarteners? You’re scared of kindergarteners?” Now Marshall was laughing. I pulled the shotgun onto my back and sighed,

  “Apparently it’s back to being a library.” The last few days were making me look a fool. I was a professional for God sakes!

  “No, I can seriously see how terrifying they could be. I’ve heard they turn into snot throwing, little terrors when they don’t get what they want and to top it off they throw up like the Exorcist when they’re ill.” Marshall was laughing so hard he was drawing attention to us.

  “Ok, so it looks like the Librarian has actually cleaned up a little…” I think I preferred the Ghouls,

  “You know, true Librarians always put their nest first.” Adram had stopped laughing and put his hand on my shoulder consoling my heavy handedness,

  “Nest?” It’s amazing what words shut a cowboy up. I started walking towards the basement doors,

  “The majority of libraries, especially those built in the sixties…and before you ask it’s something to do with the type of cement they used to build with that appeals…are nests consisting of books. That’s why we call these particular supernaturals Librarians. They horde books because it’s part of their nature and because they want to make a little money they allow people to use it. Have you ever wondered why you get a really big fine when you don’t bring the books back? Unfortunately, it can also draw those a little less normal in. Usually the Librarian can handle it but when they can’t, I get called in. They’re actually not that bad, although they can get a little carnivorous when they get upset.” I dodged a spider web and smiled as Adram got hit in the face with it,

  “So why are we in the basement?” Marshall was dodging spider webs a lot more efficiently than Adram, who looked like he may have just swallowed a spider,

  “Because, if there’s kids upstairs the Librarian will be down here. Normally Librarians like attics but if you remember from the outside, this place doesn’t have one. She could also be in hibernation because she had staff walking about upstairs. Or did the great Texas Ranger miss that?”

  “I…”

  “Laughing can get you killed. There’s so many supernaturals that look like children but could eat you in one big gulp. You really can’t let your guard down.” There wasn’t any man eating children yet, but I wanted to freak him out. Saying that thought I had once mistaken a goblin for a five year old. It was only from the back and by the time I got closer, I could definitely smell the difference.

  “Ok, I get the point.”

  “I’m sorry. I just don’t like being laughed at.”

  “Come on children. We need to get this done sooner rather than later because I’m getting dust and spider poop on my Armani.” Adram was such a clothes whore.

  The walls were filled with old shelving that where covered from floor to ceiling with books. This was obviously the occult section. I could practically feel the darkness oozing from some of them. The deeper we went, the older the books got until scrolls were lined up neatly in their allocated sections. Who knew the Dewey Decimal Classification system was made up by demons? It certainly explained a lot.

  “What do you want? I thanked you for the removal of those things didn’t I?” An old woman shuffled from the darkness. Her body enclosed in a cloak that dragged along the floor. The hump on her back and hooked nose made her look like a witch from a fairy tale. Her fat arse made her look like Beyoncé!

  “We need help Margareet.” Adram smiled. I inched closer, not really wanting to get in eating distance. This old woman wasn’t all she seemed,

  “Who might we be?” Librarians had a thirst for information and hopefully I could use that to get out in one piece,

  “Marshall Walker ma’am, pleased to meet you.” Marshall held out his hand but she moved unnaturally fast and before he could jump, her clawed fingers were scrapping over his chin,

  “It’s been a while since I have seen beauty such as yours.” She drooled, she actually drooled,

  “Thanks.” I muttered.

  “Ask your questions and be quick. The library is about to close, and I need my beauty sleep.” She shuffled towards a large oak chair and snuggled her arse into it. She looked so small sitting in it. Why did she need such a big chair? Her arse wasn’t that big and her hump fit fine.

  “What do you know of Clockwork?” Nothing better than getting straight to the point. Adram winced at my bluntness but the place gave me the heebie-jeebies. Even the cockroaches were scuttling in the opposite direction,

  “I know many Clockworks. Be specific.” She scraped her claw on the arm of the chair peeling off splinters of wood,

  “The one that’s been kidnapping teenage girls! The one that’s shipped them to this country! The one that’s got my daughter!” Marshall was shouting and Margareet’s eye started to twitch,

  “I’m sure Marshall here didn’t mean to disrespect you Margareet, oh great and powerful Librarian of East Street.” Adram bowed and was making a show, only because he didn’t want to get eaten,

  “That particular Clockwork is here but I cannot see him. His name appeared in the census a week ago.”

  “Do you know what he is?” I was curious,

  “Let me see.” She almost flew across the floor to a book that was open on an ornate wooden stand. It was twice the size of her and yet she skimmed through the pages as if it was a pocket book, “Unknown elf.” Then she slammed the book shut making dust explode everywhere.

  “That doesn’t help much.”

  “He is an unknown elf. That is all I know. That is what the census wanted to record, and it has done so. What more do you want?”

  I didn’t want to ask the next question but I had to and Marshall wouldn’t like it, “Are the girls with him?”

  “How should I know? I only know what the census records.” She was back to her chair looking bored. What would a cognitive census record?

  “Are the girls here and alive?”

  “Yes, for now. There is no blemish through their names.”

  “What are their names?” She knew more than she was letting on. How could she check names when I hadn’t told her?

  “I’m bored now. If you want more information, I suggest you go see the Elk. After all he is the elf master.”

  “What do you know?” Marshall was yelling again. He’d obviously picked up on the same thing I had,

  “I think I’ll take my payment now.” She smiled and I saw a lot of pointy teeth,

  “You didn’t mention payment. That’s not fair Margareet.” Adram looked horrified, and was slowly backing away.

  “None of you have a library card so you have to pay for my services.”

  “Sorry I don’t carry cash.” I put my hand on my hip and glared at her,

  “I don’t want money. I want beauty.” She pointed at Marshall with one long clawed finger. “I told you it has been a long time since I saw beauty such as him.” Marshall pulled out his gun and pointed it at her.

  I really, really didn’t need this. If he knew what she was, he would have just turned around and run but oh no, he had to pull a gun on a Librarian.

  “Silly, silly mortal.”

  She laughed and then threw her cloak to the floor. This was not going to pretty. Wrapped around her body were four more arms that were black and clawed at the tips. I winced because her hump technically wasn’t a hump and her fat arse wasn’t
an arse. Her arms curled out and she dropped to the floor. Did I mention I hated spiders? Did I mention that I was nearly eaten last time?

  “I’m afraid the Library is now closed!” She hissed, and I saw Adram practically shit himself,

  “Don’t you dare disappear!” I yelled at him,

  “I’ll only be a hindrance.” And with that he was gone again. I would swear he was yellow under all that green fur!

  “I suggest we run!” I said to Marshall who stood in shock, “Come on snap outta it!” I pulled at his arm and I saw realisation hit him.

  “What the fu…”

  “Spider, big arsed spider. Librarians need the extra arms.” We were running through the basement and I think he was finally understanding why there was so many spider webs.

  I could hear the scrape of legs against the stone floor and she was getting closer. We flew through the door, but everyone had gone. The bitch had closed the Library while we’d been talking. I tried the light switch, but it looked like she had cut the power as well,

  “Welcome to my parlour, said the spider to the fly.” I sighed. I pulled the shotgun from my back because it looked like we were going to have to blast our way out. “We have to try and make it to the door.”

  “Sounds easy enough.”

  “I wish it was.” We started to run for the door when the Librarian exploded through the basement door, fangs blazing and looking pissed,

  “Beauty I must have!” I stopped and turned, aiming at her head,

  “And what about me?”

  “Average?” The cheeky cow! I pulled the trigger but the bullets bounced off her head. Wrong bullets! Damn it. We needed a new plan and quickly. That was when Marshall started shooting and got the bitch right in her chest. Green goo dripped onto the floor and melted a hole straight through. Great. Unfortunately all she did was roar.

  “I suggest we run. Now!” I grabbed Marshall and started running. I could hear the Librarian crawling up the walls and was now attacking from the ceiling. She was spitting acid and blocking the door,

  “Any suggestions?” I was looking at Marshall and he was staring back at me,

  “You’re the killer.”

  “Thanks for the reminder! Damn it all, I’m gonna have to make a run for it.”

  “I thought that was what we were doing?”

  “I’ll distract her while you get the door open. Shoot it if you have to, but get it open!”

  “We could use a window?”

  “She’s webbed them because if you hadn't noticed, she’s a big arsed spider!” Sarcasm was my friend in dire situations.

  “Do I want to know what you’re going to do?” Marshall looked concerned,

  “Just get the door open!” I cocked the shotgun and pulled the trigger over and over and ran further into the library. The Librarian jumped over Marshall and hissed at me. Great, just great!

  I jumped onto the tables and started running, she was following and I saw Marshall trying to force the door open with an axe. I had no idea where he got it from but I was grateful. Now I had to squish the spider from hell. The Librarian dived at me and I sprang into the air, twisting until I fell onto her back. I cringed as I held on to her fur. Now I was rodeoing a spider with no idea what to do next. It was a good idea at the time, not so much now. She headed towards the shelves and stated ramming us through them. Books hurt – a lot. That was when Adram popped up behind me,

  “Yeeee ha!” He yelled,

  “Not now Adram, little busy here!”

  “Take this.” He handed me a glowing ball and poofed out again. I looked at the ball and smiled. Adram wasn’t as yellow as I thought.

  I scrambled closer to the Librarian’s head, clutching the ball as hard as I could. I only needed one more roar, so I dug my heels into her back as hard as I could and that did it. I slam dunked the ball in her mouth and jumped. This was going to be close.

  “I hope you’ve got that door open!” Marshall looked back and smiled as he finally kicked the door open. I must have had a panicked look on my face as I ran into him,

  “What the…” I looked over my shoulder and saw the Librarian clutching at her throat, which was now starting to glow. The brighter it got the more her skin cracked. Shit, we weren’t going to make it.

  I grabbed Marshall and concentrated on the diamond in my ring. It took effort to do this standing still and I wasn’t sure if I could do it running. I concentrated as much as I could, going deeper and deeper into the diamond until I saw it at its most basic level. I felt my skin hardening and crystallising. I didn’t have time to see if I had completely changed because I felt heat knock us off our feet. I covered Marshal with my body as heat streamed over us. When the last flaming book hit me on the head, I got up and sat on my arse. Marshall was looking at me shock,

  “What the hell did you do…and what…” I think Marshall was in shock,

  “Adram gave me a little bit of hell fire and well, it seems spiders have an allergy to it.” I was laughing but he was still glaring,

  “You’re…what the hell are you?” He scrambled away from me and I sighed,

  “I’m the person who just saved your life and at this moment I'm kinda a hell diamond!” I looked down and I’d managed to transform ninety percent of my body into diamond and I probably looked a little weird. “I’ve already told you I’m half demon for God’s sake! Hand me your mobile…” I wagged my hand at him and he looked at me blankly, “You’re cell! Mine’s a little crushed from when I threw myself over you.”

  “Who could you possibly be calling?”

  “The Major.”

  Chapter Eight

  The Major wasn't a happy bunny. In fact, the only thing that got me through his tirade of insults and curses was imagining him as a rabbit. I don’t think he appreciated it when I snorted a few times. Having a lecture from a fat rabbit about the loss of a Library nearly cracked my restraint as I nodded in agreement. It wasn’t as if I meant to destroy it. If Marshall hadn’t been with us then we wouldn’t have had a spider problem – maybe. I didn’t think he appreciated being called at his private number but tough. I couldn’t clean up this mess myself and he had repeatedly told me to call him if we had any problems. Somehow, I didn’t think even he could ignore the mass of fire engines and reporters. It’s amazing how much damage a gas leak could cause. After my dressing down the Major scuttled back under his rock and I let out a sigh of relief. This was why I didn’t work with anyone. I couldn’t really class Adram as a partner in crime because he literally did what he wanted. Although this time I was very, very thankful he came back.

  I had no idea where he got hell fire from, but I wanted to kiss his furry green face. If he hadn’t, well, I dare to think what shape I would be in now. Marshall on the other hand, was keeping his distance. Non-believers always freaked out when they started to believe. The more they saw the more their own reality started to unravel. I suppose having a diamond chick on top of you saving your life was probably a little too much. Didn’t he know diamonds were a girl’s best friend? Just because I could be one at a molecular level shouldn’t be held against me. The joys of being half demon. It was easier to say that then ‘I’m not exactly sure what I am’. I was feeling exhausted having changed so quickly and on the move, but Marshall wouldn’t know that. I didn’t want sympathy even though I had saved his life. The look on his face though made something break inside me. To be looked at like a monster after nearly dying was painful. Then again demons were monsters and by default that made me one I suppose.

  “What’s next?” Marshall walked over to where I was sitting watching the hot firemen drown out the last of the blaze,

  “I need to eat.” I rubbed soot from my knee as he sat next to me,

  “Look, I’m sorry. It’s just that I’ve never seen anything like that before.”

  “It’s ok. Monsters have that effect.” I didn’t want to look at him. I’d spent so much time around my family and Adram; I’d forgotten how others saw me sometimes.

&n
bsp; “You’re not a monster. I just didn’t expect you to be able to do that. Whatever that was.”

  “Prffft, it’s my party trick. Apparently I’m a type of elemental demon…look I don’t want to talk about it. If I don’t eat soon I think I may pass out.” I shook my head and headed towards Betty,

  “I’m sorry. Damn, I keep saying sorry don’t I?” Great, he was following me,

  “It’s ok. I’m used to it. I’m a bit of a freak in both worlds you know.” I piled into Betty hoping that I didn’t pass out at the wheel,

  “You look awful, why don’t I drive?” I looked at him and his green eyes made me give in. I got out and we swapped sides, handing him the keys as we passed.

  Our hands touched briefly and that was enough to knock me on my arse. I should have known better than to touch someone when I was so hungry. I didn’t have control and I felt myself digging deeper into his sins. Most normal people had little sins, the white lie to save someone pain and the chocolate bar you stole from your best friend at school. They all stay, floating on the surface of your soul until too many tip the balance and you tumble into hell. Marshall didn’t have any surface sins. I expected something but I was being swallowed by the darkness of his sins moulding into something else. Something had tipped the balance in his soul, and was combining his guilt with everything else, it made me stop breathing. Whatever he had done, it was more than taking a life. He had done that many times as part of his job as a Texas Ranger whether he had wanted to or not. This was so much more,

  “Xan!” The voice cut through the darkness, “Alexandra!” I felt a big furry hand slap me hard across the face,

  “Give it a rest, I’m back…I’m back…” I opened my eyes to Adram and Marshall looking down at me in concern,

  “What happened?” Marshall was trying to help me to my feet but I couldn’t look at him,

  “She’s hungry. Xan you shouldn’t have left it this long! Have you even eaten since the Museum?” I was wincing because Adram was yelling,