by Amy Cross
"He's busy with the Elders," Natalia replies. "They're preparing a great feast for tonight, but I'll send word that you're awake and I'm sure he'll come down to see you as soon as he has a spare moment."
"What about Sharpe?" I ask. "I need to see someone."
"I'm not sure where Mr. Sharpe is, but I'll see what can be done. For now, you just need to rest. I'm under strict orders to make sure you recover as quickly as possible, and the most important thing is for you to stay in bed and wait until your strength has fully recovered. Are you going to listen to me and do what's good for you, or are you going to put up a fight and make me take a tough line with you?"
I stare at her for a moment. There's no point fighting with her, so I might as well make her think that I'm going to do what she wants. "Sure," I mutter, heading back to the bed and climbing back under the sheets.
"I'll fetch you some food," Natalia says, smiling as she hurries out of the room.
I sit completely still for a few minutes, making sure that Natalia is well away from the door before I make any noise. Once I'm certain that she's gone, I get out of bed and head to the door. I need to find Vanguard and Sharpe so that I know everything's okay; I also need to work out how I'm going to get back to my own world, since an extended stay in the Library isn't something that appeals too much. Leaning out into the corridor, I see nothing but cold stone passages heading in either direction.
"Claire?" says a voice suddenly, and I turn to find Natalia standing just a few feet away.
"Hey," I say, surprised by how she seemed to just sneak up on me so quickly. "I was just... I mean, I just wanted to take a look around."
"You need to rest," she says, grabbing me by the elbow and leading me back into the room. "You suffered a great deal on your journey. From what I've been told, you're rather lucky to have survived at all. I've been put in charge of making sure you're okay, and I'm most certainly not going to have you racing about. Imagine Vanguard's response if he discovered that I let you go storming about like this." She gently settles me back on my bed and smiles at me as she pulls the bed-sheets back over my body. "Don't worry. You'll be up to full strength in a few days, and then you can start to find a way back to your own world."
I open my mouth to argue with her, but there's something slightly menacing about her smile. I get the feeling that whatever I do or say, she's determined to make me stay in bed. I guess I need to play a very long game, and wait until I've gained her trust. Besides, Vanguard and Sharpe should be along soon to tell me what we're doing next.
"Sure," I say meekly. "I'll stay in bed." Damn it, I sound so polite and obedient; I want to vomit.
"That's what I like to hear," she says, grinning as she heads back to the door. "Don't go anywhere, Claire. I'll find you something to eat."
Once she's gone, I force myself to stay in bed. The last thing I want to do is make this Natalia woman think that I'm tricky. Although it's good to be in a proper bed and away from the aisles of the Library, I can't help thinking that there's something a little creepy about this place. Natalia seemed so keen to make sure I stay in my room, and I find it hard to believe that Vanguard would just drop me off here and then not bother waiting around to see if I'm okay. Taking a deep breath, I look over at the door and suddenly I realize I'm being dumb: there's no reason for me to just sit here and wait to be told what to do. Pulling the bed-sheets aside, I stand up and head back to the door.
"Here you go!" Natalia says, suddenly returning with a tray of food. She smiles at me as she stands in the doorway, blocking my way. Once again, I can't help feeling that her pleasant, helpful demeanor is being used to hide a more calculated and controlling agenda. There's no way I'm getting out of this room; not yet, anyway. "You seem determined to keep getting out of bed, Claire," she continues after a moment. "I can see I'm going to have to keep a very close eye on you."
Epilogue
The creature sleeps on top of one of the shelves, feeling the warming glow of the sun on its back. Its belly is still full, and movement will be difficult for a few more days. This, though, is how it lives: it eats irregular, huge meals, and then sleeps for many days. It knows that no-one will disturb it, and rarely will it stir until the digestion process is complete. After all, it has an entire soldier in its stomach, including all the bones; it will take time for the body to break down entirely.
Today, though, something is different.
Suddenly, the creature opens one of its eyes. At first, it can't be sure why it has woken, but it knows there must be something nearby. Raising its head, the creature turns and looks toward the Citadel. After a moment, something in one of the windows catches its attention. The creature opens its other eye and finally realizes what it's seeing: a human girl, standing at the window and looking out across the Library. A few seconds later, a female Grandapam joins the human, and leads her back into the room.
The creature stares at the empty window. The presence of a human female is not a surprise; the creature already knew that she was here, and that she was to be allowed safe passage to the Citadel. But as it sniffs the light morning air, the creature picks up the scent of blood. For a moment, the creature can think of nothing but the sensation of human blood in its jaws; to pick that body apart would be a wonderful experience. The creature knows, however, that it can do no such thing. The time might come when the human is considered fair game, but for now she has been marked as off-limits.
Figuring it can't do anything to change the situation, the creature slowly closes its eyes and starts drifting off back to sleep. In its belly, the soldier's body shifts position a little; it has only been a few hours since the meal, and oftentimes these soldiers take a while to die. Enjoying the sensation of its prey still struggling to get free, the creature starts to dream of the day when it might eventually be allowed to hunt the human.
Book 4:
Comes a War
Prologue
She's here. She's close. Soon, she'll be coming up the stairs.
I've waited so long for this moment. I remember the day, all those years ago, when I was told about her. I was told to expect her, but also that the wait would be almost intolerable. I was told that all the pieces needed to be in position, in anticipation of her arrival. Reluctantly, I agreed. I mean, it wasn't exactly my idea, but I understood that I had a certain debt to pay. If I didn't agree to play my part, I would probably have been burned to pieces. So I agreed. There have been times when I've regretted that decision, but at least I seem to have made it through the darkness.
I wonder what she looks like? It's been so long since I last saw her, and I'm sure she's changed a great deal. My heart is racing at the thought that I might see her face, and hear her voice, and maybe even touch her skin. She'll need me, of course. After all, that's why I was left here in the first place: it was decided long ago that she'd eventually need someone, and I was nominated. I wasn't exactly thrilled at the prospect, but nevertheless, here I am.
I'm ready.
I'm waiting.
After all these years, the moment is about to arrive.
Claire
"This scar," says Natalia, as she continues to sponge me down. "What caused it? I could almost believe your back was cracked open."
"Something like that," I say, sitting curled up in the small tin bath.
She continues to wash my body. "You don't want to talk about it?"
"I had an operation," I continue, figuring I have to tell her the same story I've had to tell almost everyone I've met since I went under the knife. "Back home. I had this condition that meant my back was curving over. Eventually it got so bad, I could barely even stand up, so they opened me up and screwed a metal pole to my spine. Now I've got the opposite problem: I can't bend at all, but at least it's better than how it was before. It's not as painful, and I don't look like such a freak." I pause for a moment, thinking back to the days when I walked with a hunch and people used to laugh at me. "It's better like this," I add quietly.
"Your back i
s firm and straight," she replies.
"Sometimes I miss being able to slouch."
"And there is no pain now?" she asks, running the warm, wet sponge along the scar.
I shake my head. "Only if I walk for too long. If the muscles get inflamed, they could push the metal from the bone and create cracks, or the screws could come loose. Then I'd really be fucked, unless I could get home and see my doctor again." I turn to her. "Are you sure Vanguard's not free to see me today? I really need to talk to him about finding a way back to my world."
"It's best not to rush these things," she replies. "When one forces events to happen, things tend to go wrong. Life has its own currents and its own tempo. Vanguard will come to you when he's available, and he'll help you find a way home. Until then, you just need to rest and let your body heal. It's not only your back that's damaged. Your feet are bloody and sore from walking so much, and your skin is dry."
I smile. She's right about my skin: I've always had a tendency to develop eczema, particularly when I'm stressed. I break out in these sore, itchy patches, and no amount of creams or lotions seem able to calm it down. Right now, thanks to the stress of getting stuck in the Library, I've got a couple of nasty red areas on my shoulders, one on my left wrist, and a small one on my face; frankly, I look pretty ridiculous, but it's not a big deal. The big deal at the moment is the fact that I'm trapped in some kind of bizarre fantasy world. If I can get out of here and get home, I'm pretty sure the stress will subside and take at least some of the eczema with it.
"Don't worry," Natalia continues, putting the sponge into a nearby bucket before grabbing a large towel and placing it over my shoulders. "I'm sure you won't be stuck here with us for long. While you're here, though, I'm going to make sure you're in the finest health. Dry yourself, get dressed, and come back to your room for some food." With that, she heads to the door, leaving me sitting alone in the tin bath.
"How am I supposed to not worry?" I mutter quietly as I stand up and start getting dry. It's been almost a day since I woke up here in the Citadel, and the only person I've seen so far is Natalia. Vanguard is apparently busy, and there's no news of Sharpe. It's as if I'm being gently, secretly held captive in this place; I'm not entirely certain, but I get the feeling that I might run into trouble if I tried to just walk out the front door. Perhaps I was being naive, but I kind of hoped that once we reached the Citadel, someone would point me in the direction of some kind of magic portal and I'd immediately get back home. Now I'm starting to realize that the process is going to take a lot longer, although at least I seem to be being treated pretty well.
Standing by the window, I look out over the Library. Every so often, I find myself wondering if perhaps I was right when I thought I was stuck in a coma. After all, while that idea certainly seems kind of crazy, in some ways it makes more sense than the alternative: is it really possible that I've been transported to an entirely different world? Everything feels so real, but I can't shake the feeling that maybe I'll suddenly wake up in a hospital bed, with everyone sitting around me looking concerned. At the same time, though, I can tell that I'm wide awake and that I'm genuinely, truly in this place. In fact, the weird thing is that I'm starting to get used to the Library, which is something that makes me feel a little freaked out. I don't want to get comfortable here: I want to get home, and to leave this place behind forever.
As soon as I'm dry, I get dressed and head back through to my room. The Citadel seems to be carved out of a kind of pale yellow stone, and it's pretty clear that the place has seen better times: there are cracks in the walls, and every so often I'll take a wrong turn and find pieces of rubble blocking the way. Occasionally, though, it's possible to see hints of old grandeur peeking through from behind the damage; faded flags still fly on many of the balconies, while grand halls are lined with large paintings that seem to show a bygone age of glory and power. It's almost like being in a museum, except that there are still a few people living here, clinging to the hope that they can somehow find a way to revisit the past. As I wander to my room, I can't help feeling a little saddened by the determination of the Citadel's inhabitants to cling to survival, while all around them their home is crumbling.
"I found you some human food," Natalia says as I enter my room. She's busily making my bed; I don't know why, but she acts almost as if she's my servant.
"You don't have to do everything for me," I tell her.
"Of course I do," she says, smiling. "My species have served your species for centuries. It's our position in society."
"Seriously?"
"It's not exactly a hardship," she continues. "I like helping you."
"Thanks," I reply, walking over to the table and seeing a bowl of vegetables. It's not exactly a feast, but at least it's not meat of questionable origin. I still shudder when I think about the food I ate back in the Library.
"I assumed you wouldn't like Burrow Worms or Grandapam meat," she continues. "From what I've heard, humans can be a little picky about their food."
"I guess," I say, picking up a slice of carrot and nibbling at the end. "It just feels a bit weird to realize you were having a conversation with your food just a few hours before dinner, you know?"
"Times are difficult," she replies. "I'm afraid we can't afford to be too picky. Meat is meat, and Burrow Worms have kept many of us alive in the years since the Forbidders came."
I open my mouth to ask her about the Forbidders, but at the last moment something seems to stick in the back of my mind. I'm still trying to remember exactly what happened to me out in the Library when I was forced to go up to the top of the shelves. I remember talking to someone, and I remember some kind of creature coming up behind me, but after that everything goes a little blank. I'm pretty sure I fell off the shelf at some point, though, and Vanguard carried me to the Citadel. I just wish I knew what happened in that space in-between being up there and coming down; it seems a little suspicious that my mind just happens to have failed to keep those memories.
"Tell me about the Forbidders," I say eventually. "What are they? Where do they come from?"
"They come from one of the other words," she replies as she finishes making my bed. She walks over to the table and starts taking the bowls of food off the tray. "At first, we just heard rumors. People would come from far away and tell us of these creatures that had arrived on the edge of the Library. It seemed like nonsense, but gradually the stories became more insistent. Then one day we started to see the smoke, rising into the distance. More and more stories reached us; people were talking about these creatures, warning us that they were destroying everything in their past. Still, we weren't sure about the truth, but the smoke came closer and closer. Finally, an emissary arrived, claiming to be a representative of the creatures. He spoke to the Librarian, and then he left. And it was just a few hours later that we learned the Librarian had fled."
"He ran away?" I ask.
She nods. "We all thought he was a good man, but he turned and ran as fast as his legs could carry him. There was shock and despair at first, followed by a realization that there was no end in sight for this war. No-one has seen him since, but I hope he rots. He should have stayed with us and fought the creatures, but instead he chose to save his own skin. There's no excuse for such behavior. Since then, the Forbidders have taken over most of the Library, spreading their influence further and further with each passing year. Some say there are still lands that have not been conquered, but others believe the Forbidders now control the whole of the Library; if that's the case, it would seem that the Citadel is the last place that they don't rule."
"Why?" I ask. "No offense, but this place doesn't look particularly difficult to attack. I don't see a huge army guarding the place, or any kind of defenses at all. I mean, we just strolled right inside, so why haven't they taken the Citadel?"
"I don't know," she replies, looking a little uncomfortable. "I suppose they must have their reasons." She takes the tray and hurries to the door. "I have chores to com
plete," she says, turning to me, "but I'll come back in a few hours for your bowls. Try to eat as much as you can. You're still weak from the journey, and I'm afraid I must insist that you get better."
Once she's gone, I head over to the window. The thought of spending the whole day just 'getting better' doesn't really appeal, and I'd rather take a look around the Citadel. I doubt Natalia would approve, since she seems determined to treat me as if I'm some kind of chronic patient. Now that she's busy, though, I guess I can take a little tour of some of the nearby corridors and rooms; I just need to make sure that I'm back before she realizes I've gone anywhere. As I'm about to turn away from the window, however, I spot something moving in the aisles directly below. It takes a moment before I realize that a small group of men seem to be making their way to the Citadel, almost as if some kind of delegation is on its way. I feel a cold shiver run through my body as I realize that one of the men looks a little familiar; I don't know where, but I'm certain I've seen him before. As I continue to stare, the man glances up toward the window. I step back, but I think he saw me. I can't help thinking that maybe I'm one of the reasons he's here.
Vanguard
"There was a time," says the Elder, "when I believed we could stop the war. It might seem now that I was hopelessly naive, but I genuinely thought we had a chance of bringing peace back to the Library. But wars are like fires; sometimes they take hold, and they will only end when they have consumed everything in their path. I'm afraid this is the case with the Library now, Vanguard. Everything is to be destroyed; by the time the cries have ended and peace returns, all of us shall be long gone."