Life Reader

by Shea, K. M.

  Asher inaudibly mumbled a reply as they approached Mr. Montamos’ car, a black Honda Pilot that was temporarily parked in the driveway.

  Aron rolled down the window and stuck his head out of the car. “Hey Ray-Ray! Come on, let’s get going!”

  “Good morning Aron,” Raven smiled before walking around the back end of the vehicle. She opened the side door and climbed in. “Thanks for dropping by to pick me up,” she chirped.

  “No problem,” Asher shrugged, climbing into the car on the other side.

  “Ray, this is our Dad. You can call him Dad. Dad, this is Ray, our long lost triplet,” Aron said, making the introductions as Raven and Asher buckled in.

  “Hello Ray, it’s a pleasure to meet you,” the twins’ father said, twisting in his seat so he could smile at her.

  Raven had to admit, she was surprised. After meeting Uncle Harold she had expected the twins’ father would be equally as eccentric. He was not. If anything, in fact, Mr. Montamos reminded Raven of a tired businessman.

  He was quietly handsome with the twins’ in between shade of not-quite-brown-not-quite-blond hair. Dark smudges lined his kind eyes, testaments to either the twins’ reign of terror, or long hours pulled at the office.

  “It’s a nice to meet you, Mr. Montamos,” Raven smiled. She was going to like the twins’ laid back parent.

  “Dad, turn around and face forward. I swear Ray isn’t going anywhere. Ray, I told you, you have to call him Dad,” Aron instructed before pulling out of the driveway. “Papa would be acceptable too.”

  “No it wouldn’t,” Asher snorted. “That sounds creepy, like pervert sitting in the gutter creepy. Ray, to you he’s Dad.”

  “Oh I couldn’t,” Raven protested.

  “No, Ray,” Mr. Montamos said, watching Aron cruise down the road. “If you feel comfortable with it please call me Dad.”

  “He always wanted a daughter,” Aron whispered in a falsetto stage voice.

  “He was going to call us Adrianna and Arianna,” Asher agreed.

  “Aron, blinker,” Mr. Montamos reminded his youngest son, not at all ruffled by the twins’ conduct.

  “I got it, I got it,” Aron grumbled.

  “So Ray, the twins tell me you and your family just moved to Bakertown?” Mr. Montamos asked.

  “Yes,” Raven nodded. “About two weeks ago.”

  “Why did you move?” Mr. Montamos inquired.

  “My father was offered a position at Bakertown’s KQ Headquarters,” Raven replied.

  “You weren’t upset about the move?” Asher asked.

  “I was at first, but the idea of working at Saint Cloud pacified me,” Raven said. “Saint Cloud is by far the biggest place I’ve worked in. It’s an honor to be placed there.”

  “It is a magnificent library,” Mr. Montamos agreed before changing subjects. “Asher has told me you are in their Japanese class. Why did you decide to take Japanese?”

  Raven blinked. Exactly how much had the twins told their father about her? “Honestly it was out of pure curiosity. My old high school only offered French and Spanish,” Raven said.

  The ride to Saint Cloud was pleasant. Mr. Montamos kept up a steady line of inquires. Aron, mercifully, drove like a pro. Asher occasionally inserted his own comments and questions between his father’s.

  Raven was smiling when she and the twins crossed the street as Mr. Montamos slid into the driver’s seat. The trio paused and waved good bye to him before entering the library.

  “It’s official. You’re his favorite child,” Aron announced as they entered the library.

  Raven laughed, recognizing Aron’s teasing. “I like your dad. He seems fun.”

  “He’s going to be your dad too,” Asher insisted as they climbed the staircase. “And yeah. Our Dad is cool.”

  “We could have done worse,” Aron shrugged.

  This praise was immense for the twins, so Raven let it slide. “Right, so I was thinking we should check the library catalog and see if there are any detailed maps or a master rooms list—so we can look for the Winter Vault,” Raven said.

  “The Book might have something—Remind us to tell you about that later by the way,” Aron said. “But if it’s in the tunnel system it’s not going to show. The tunnels wind over and under each other so it’s always a crapshoot trying to figure out what is where.”

  “After checking the Book we’ve got to do some… stuff. So you’ll be on your own for a while then,” Asher said, staring at the floor when they stopped outside the twins’ personal room.

  Raven’s eyes darted back and forth between the twins. “Everything okay with you two?”

  “Of course,” Asher said, looking up with a forced smile.

  “Halloween doesn’t bring back the best of memories,” Aron said, his lips twisting. “We tend to do our own thing when it rolls around. Sorry.”

  “No, I understand,” Raven smiled as the twins opened the door to their room and flicked on the lights

  Aron managed a small smile. Asher, on the other hand, looked utterly lost. His green eyes were unusually soulful and sad, and his shoulders were slumped with defeat.

  Raven smiled before reaching out and hugging the older twin. She wrapped her arms around Asher’s frame, warmth radiating from the gesture. Asher stiffened for several seconds before melting into the embrace, tipping his head to rest it against Raven’s.

  When Raven pulled back after several moments Asher burned with embarrassment. “You’re such a girl,” he accused, turning redder as he avoided her gaze.

  Raven wryly smiled, but Aron didn’t bother to veil his cackle.

  Raven turned on her heels to address the younger twin. “Would you like a hug too, Aron?”

  “Yes, I need one!” Aron said, throwing his arms open.

  Raven rolled her eyes at his theatrics but stepped into the hug. She squealed when Aron lifted her off her feet and carried her into the room. “I’m so glad we’ve adopted you. You’re so easy to manhandle,” Aron said.

  “Put me down!” Raven said, her face growing warm as she dangled from Aron’s grasp.

  After the twins had a good laugh at Raven’s expense they cracked open their mysterious, magical, all knowing book and still forgot to explain it to Raven. They discovered nothing in its pages, so Raven turned on her tail and beat a hasty retreat to the computer lab.

  “Good morning, Royce, Brannon,” Raven said, smiling sunnily and swishing her skirt.

  Royce looked up and returned the smile. “Rachel, hey there,” he said. “I haven’t seen you around for a while.”

  “I’ve been hanging out with the twins a lot,” Raven said, leaning against Royce’s desk.

  “Nothing wrong with that, if you’re safe with them that is. Morning Rachel,” Brannon said in his deep, rumbling voice.

  “Do you think it will be busy today?” Raven asked.

  “Nope. Since today is Halloween with trick or treating and everything I’m not sure we’ll get many people,” Royce said, shifting in his chair.

  Raven nodded and looked over her shoulder before gesturing. “I’m going to use the catalog computer for a moment. You’ll let me know if you need help with anything?”

  Raven pushed away from the desk and headed for the computer after the two boys nodded. She settled down in front of it, changing a few options before starting her search.

  The library catalog was basically an online search engine that allowed Raven to sift through the library’s recorded collection.

  Raven tried key words she thought would be helpful—Bakertown, history of; local landmarks; library history—but all the books that came up for her searches were, according to the catalog, pulled from the shelves and being repaired.

  Raven even logged into the Kingdom Quest version of the library catalog—which would have the magical resources available in addition to the usual collection. Again, any helpful information was unavailable, missing, or being repaired.

  Raven tapped her nails on the computer desk b
efore she glanced over her shoulder.

  Royce and Brannon were still prepping for opening the library. They might be able to tell her where the books being repaired were kept… but….

  “It can’t be a coincidence that all of these books are unavailable to the public. More than likely they aren’t there, even if that’s what the catalog record shows,” Raven said, staring at the screen again. “It wouldn’t hurt to ask though,” she thought for a moment and shook her head.

  She hated to sound jaded, but if she asked Brannon or Royce where the repairing area was the information would get back to Daire. If she asked a full time staff member the information would undoubtedly go to Director Eastgate. However, Raven had the distinct feeling that Director Eastgate knew just about everything that went on in Saint Cloud anyway.

  Raven tapped her perfectly shaped, French tipped nails for a few moments more before pushing away from the desk and heading for the stairs. “I’ll be back before we open—I just want to ask Alison a few questions,” Raven called to the boys as she started up the steps.

  Royce adjusted his hat and raised both his eyebrows, but Brannon nodded as if that was a typical thing. “Cool—she’s probably in the children’s area. Good luck!”

  “Thanks,” Raven called before climbing the last few steps.

  Raven started in the direction that she knew the children’s area was located, but she hit several dead ends in the twisting maze of bookshelves and had to circle back once or twice.

  A pink hued fairy found Raven, making Raven’s aggravation much worse by clapping and cheering whenever Raven did anything, including stumbling into dead ends.

  “Reference must have found every book for all the patrons when this place was open,” Raven said, stumbling through the last barrier of shelves. “Even I don’t get the layout.”

  Raven poked her head in the cheerful children’s area. “Alison?” she called.

  There was no answer.

  “Alison,” Raven repeated in a louder volume, walking further into the room, the fairy hovering above her head.

  Still no answer.

  Raven did a quick circuit of the perimeter, the fairy trailing after her like a dizzy firefly, which revealed no one. “She’s not here? Maybe she’s talking to Director Eastgate,” she said, planting a hand on her hip as she thought. “Whatever. I’ll go ask the twins. If they don’t know where books that are in for repair are being kept I’m sure they can find out,” she said, leaving the kids area.

  Fairly confident of the correct path, Raven made her way through the shelves much more quickly. As she drew closer to the stairs she could hear raised voices, like faint shouts.

  When the spiral staircase was in sight, the library erupted in an explosion of noise.

  Church bells rang, clamoring over each other in deafening tolls. The ground shook, and bits of dust and mortar fell from the ceiling.

  Raven was sent to her knees by the power of the sounds, covering her ears as her fairy companion zig zagged drunkenly through their air, landing on Raven’s shoulder.

  Raven clenched her teeth, her bones vibrating with the reverberations of the bells. She was barely aware that several other fairies fell through the air, landing on her and clinging to her clothes.

  Noise seemed to leak out of every corner, surface, and crack of Saint Cloud. The sound blasted like a thunderclap that was too close for comfort.

  Just as Raven forced herself to stand, intending to stagger to the stairs, a hand grasped her elbow.

  Raven screamed and spun, almost losing a fairy in the process.

  Director Eastgate held her elbow, his black eyes scanning her for injuries. “You’re alright then,” he shouted, barely audible over the bells.

  “What? What’s happening?”

  Director Eastgate held one finger up and looked to the ceiling.

  Another fairy plopped on Raven’s head, and some of the violent cacophony faded. Bells still rang, but at a decibel that did not cause Raven’s teeth to rattle.

  “It’s an emergency alarm. The library is under attack, it’s a miracle they didn’t scent you out. Come, we have to leave,” Eastgate said, pulling Raven off into the fiction collection.

  “We’re WHAT?”

  “Under attack. Someone sabotaged the security system—it didn’t go off when the attack started. All communication systems with KQ headquarters have been disconnected. We have to escape and report it in person.”

  “What about everyone else? We have to let them know, they have to get out!” Raven said, hurrying after her boss.

  “They already know! You’re the only one we couldn’t find. They were organizing an exit pattern when I left to get you. They’re waiting at the escape point. There!” the director said as they made a turn out of the book collection and popped out by a long wall.

  Sure enough, a crowd of Saint Cloud employees huddled around a darkened tunnel entrance.

  Allison Morris stood in the tunnel, holding a glob of venom green light in her hand to illuminate area.

  A banged up Daire stood with her, shouting at her with great feeling. Brannon and Royce were pressed against the wall, white and trembling. Mrs. Conners stood next to Brannon, speaking calmly as she patted the huge football player’s arm, completely unruffled.

  Raven swallowed thickly. Her brain stopped when she realized they were missing someone. Three someones. “Where’s Asher and Aron? And Jeremiah?” Raven said as soon as she was close enough to be heard.

  “The twins got separated from us. They’re probably fine, I saw them dive into a different tunnel when they were split from us,” Daire said before directing his words to Director Eastgate. “The invaders took Jeremiah.”

  The director nodded as he peeled off his suit coat and tossed it aside. “Very well. Alison, lead everyone out. Check our emergency contact system in the gardens if you can. Mrs. Conners, take up the rear, please? I should be able to cover you.”

  “You’re going back for them?” Daire said.

  Director Eastgate nodded, removing his tie.

  “I’m going with you,” Raven said, shocking everyone, including herself.

  “You really are crazy—what can you do to help?” Daire scathingly said.

  “Cupcake, you really should come with us. It’s going to be dangerous. Real dangerous,” Allison said, her green magic casting an eerie light on her face.

  The director was the only one who did not seem appalled. “You are certain you want to?” he asked Raven, fixing his gaze on her.

  There was a lot of weight behind his eyes.

  When Raven didn’t reply he added. “I can save the twins without your help. You don’t need to.”

  Raven closed her eyes, wanting to flee from the choice before her. Did she need to use her magic? The director was surely competent; he could retrieve the twins and Jeremiah, right?

  The ground shook beneath them, and somewhere in the lower floor there were thundering groans as bookshelves toppled over. The frightened fairies nestled closer to Raven, speaking to her in chiming voices she couldn’t understand.

  Raven remembered the great longing and joy the library greeted her with. Even now, while under attack and utter ruin, the books still whispered to Raven, speaking in restless, broken voices.

  Raven opened her eyes. “I’m coming,” she said, her voice firm. She couldn’t use her magic in front of the director, but maybe she could separate from him…

  Director Eastgate gave her his rusty wry smile as he unbuttoned his cuffs and rolled them up to his elbows. “Very well, let’s go,” he said before turning on his heels and walking back in the direction they came from.

  Raven trotted after him, carefully removing fairies from her clothing and placing them on shelves as they walked.

  Daire started after them, but the director spun around and pointed back in the direction of the tunnel. “Not you, you go escape, prefect,” he said, disdain coloring his voice.

  Daire stared. “You’re joking. You let her come with you
but you send me away?”

  “She is not useless.”

  “And I am?”

  Director Eastgate shrugged. “Your words, not mine,” he said before pointing again, his black eyes pinning Daire down with the physical force of a stone gargoyle. “Go.”

  Daire hesitated before going back to the escape tunnel. He ducked inside it after Royce and Brannon, following them to safety.

  Director Eastgate nodded and led the way through the maze of bookshelves. “We will make our stand at the stairs. We can attack the enemy as they try to enter the second story. The twins will find us on their own, particularly if they feel you using your magic. Jeremiah is my main concern.”

  Raven kicked off her heels and shivered in unease when a deep throated humming invaded her senses. “How will we locate him?”

  The director snickered as they rounded a corner and pressed on. “I doubt it will be a problem, the enemy will bring him to us. It’s getting him out that’s going to be the difficult part.”

  Raven eyed the books to her left and skid to a halt long enough to snag a thin book. She looked up, frowning deeply as unnatural shadows began coating the ceiling, covering up the beautiful artwork.

  “Did you ever say exactly what attacked the library?” she asked.

  “No,” the director said, halting when they came upon the staircase. “It’s a hoard of decayors.”

  Raven’s eyes widened and she barely had time to brace herself before the first decayor popped over the stairs. Shortly after another decayor crawled into sight, followed by another, and another. There seemed to be no end to their numbers.

  The creatures’ stench nearly made Raven retch. They reeked of swamp mud and rotten eggs.

  As their numbers multiplied they cackled, their voices piercing Raven’s ear drums like iron nails. Globs of spit dangled from their grimacing mouths, and their hideously large, stained teeth gaped. They pointed at Raven with skeletal fingers, their dead fish eyes glazed with promises of death.

  Raven swallowed and took a step backwards as the nightmares pulled themselves towards her, the marble floor blackening where they crawled.