by Shea, K. M.
“The good news is we have lots of dirt on him too, and if the director tells him to keep his mouth shut he will,” Aron pleasantly added.
“You two are surprisingly calm about this, considering you just found out I’m pretty much a freak,” Raven said, narrowing her eyes.
Asher shrugged. “It’s just one more thing about you that we find attractive. Besides, it doesn’t really matter.”
“…It doesn’t matter,” Raven flatly repeated.
“Nope,” Asher nodded.
“Because, I mean, you’re Ray-Ray,” Aron said. “Even though you have awesome magic you’re sure to be stuffy about it. You would never read a zombie to life so we could scare the pants off Jeremiah,” Aron said, dreamily clasping his hands.
“Or read us motorcycles,” Asher said, revving an imaginary bike.
“Or read us pet wolverines.”
“Bottom line is you wouldn’t use it. Which is probably a good thing if it makes you so,” Asher wildly motioned, looking for the right word.
“Sick,” Aron said.
Raven opened and closed her mouth several times, oddly touched by the twins’ loyalty. She sniffed, and the twins looked uncomfortable.
“So,” Asher said, not giving Raven the chance to speak. “About the Winter Vault. Should we start searching for it after school?”
“What is the likelihood our director would tell its location to his favorite little page turner?” Aron said, turning a gleeful smile at Raven.
“Not good,” Raven said, shaking her head. “Mrs. Conners and the director took my magic well, but that might be for political reasons. They literately have me backed into a corner, there’s nothing I can do to get out of this. The director might have been acting nice to me all along in order to put me off my guard.”
“That doesn’t seem quite right to me, but I’m not exactly for the idea of waltzing into his office and asking for help,” Aron said.
“So where does that leave us?” Asher said.
Raven exhaled. “I’m not sure.”
“We’re hurt Ray-Ray, we thought Rachel McCellen was your real name,” Aron sniffed, placing a hand over his heart as the twins and Raven stood in front of the library.
In spite of her best efforts Raven was still unbearably crabby. Perhaps it was the weather—it was raining with predicted thunderstorms any minute—perhaps it was the stress of wondering what sort of future Director Eastgate had in store for her. In reflection of her sour mood the twins had taken to feeding her Firebird Toffee Tail Feather candy bars in hopes of raising her spirits.
“I was hoping you guys wouldn’t catch that,” Raven said before Asher shoved a candy bar in her mouth. The toffee melted in her mouth, and she sighed in appreciation.
“We did mess up. When the magic abuser said your real name we were a little distracted with the decayors. Which is why we would like to hear it again,” Aron said with his best car dealer smile. He didn’t even attempt to hide his cell phone, which he had poised, ready to type.
“Not telling,” Raven mumbled around her buttery candy before licking chocolate off her lips as she leaned closer to Asher, who held an umbrella over their heads.
“Don’t worry. We’ll figure it out eventually,” Asher said. “So, the Winter Vault? I’m still betting it’s beyond that endless tunnel.”
“Yeah, we’re going to have to get serious about breaking past that area,” Aron said as the trio set off the automatic doors.
“We could try digging a tunnel beneath the slope,” Asher suggested, stepping inside and collapsing the umbrella.
“That’ll take forever,” Aron said, following Raven into the library.
“But we won’t have time to look at it today. We’ll be busy with clean up,” Raven said.
“Nah,” Aron shook his head.
“What do you mean, ‘nah’?”
Asher motioned in front of them with a finger. “Look and see.”
Raven looked around and froze when she registered what she was seeing. Every book, every shelf, every painting, piece of artwork, every item in the library was back in its original position, spotless and clean. It was as if the attack never happened.
Raven knew nonfiction bookshelves had fallen over. She heard it above the chaos during the attack!
“What….,” Raven got out.
“ There’s no way the janitor would put up with the library being in a less than perfect condition for an extended period of time,” Aron said, his face pinched as he recited the words, almost as if quoting someone.
“Oh,” Asher said, blinking as he looked at the computers. “Looks like they sent Greg over. He’s the IT guy for headquarters. I wonder if he brought—,”
“TEAGAN!” Aron said lurching forward before dreamily clasping his hands beneath his chin, rapidly batting his eyes.
“Oh yeah, there she is,” Asher said, pointing to a tall female who was standing in the ocean of computers, mostly blocked by Greg. “Teagan is Greg’s assistant. Although I think she’s more tech savvy with her magic than Greg has and will ever be.”
Raven stretched her neck for a good look as they drew closer. She knew of Greg Bruno—even though he was not a library employee he was the only KQ headquarters staff member who frequently visited the library without being harassed. His packet was in her pile of staff members to be familiar with. She hadn’t heard a word, however, of his assistant.
Greg was a balding man with a hefty stomach and drooping hound dog eyes. According to his file he was slow to smile, slow to speak, and his wardrobe consisted mostly of blue, green and grey polos.
Raven curiously leaned forward, peering around the polo wearing tech support specialist to view his assistant.
She was gorgeous. No, flawless. Greg’s assistant had the unfading beauty found in the faces of elves, the kind that stole your breath away. She had high cheekbones, a beautiful, straight nose, her lips were the perfect thickness, her eyebrows were sculpted and arched, her eyelashes thick and long. Her eyes were a light hazel brown color, and her hair was ebony black, luxurious and thick.
She wore a skirt—black with purple flowers—and a fitted black shirt that hugged her curves. One would not call Teagan skinny, but she was beautiful and lovely. Her looks were only ornamented by her clothes and makeup, not made up of.
“Teagaaaaaaan,” Aron said, wriggling like a puppy next to Raven.
“Shut up,” Asher said, rolling his eyes. “She doesn’t even know you exist. You’re pathetic, you know that?”
“I can’t help it if I like my women beautiful and gorgeous and lovely and crafty enough to crack through all library firewalls and protective measures,” Aron happily sighed, smiling at Teagan.
“What is he talking about?” Raven said to Asher.
Asher sighed. “Teagan Kooper is Greg’s assistant, even though she does the majority of the work. She doesn’t have any sort of physical magic. Her powers are all computer and power related. She can remove viruses, start up a computer that isn’t plugged in, retrieve deleted files, anything is possible for her when it comes to computers. One of our patrons once downloaded a virus that locked up the whole computer, using the library firewall to shield itself. Teagan hacked her way through the firewall, found the virus and eliminated it within minutes. Brannon had been working on it for days before she and Greg dropped by, and he wasn’t able to get anywhere on it.”
Teagan nodded at something Greg said, her bangs elegantly falling across her forehead with the movement.
Greg walked off, leaving Teagan alone. The tall beauty turned her neck to look at a computer, and the screen flickered to life.
“If she’s so good,” Raven said. “What is she doing here?”
“Ah, that’s the catch,” Asher nodded.
“She wouldn’t be able to find another job, not easily anyway. It’s a wonder headquarters ever hired her in the first place. She’s a convicted felon,” Aron said, falling out of his infatuation long enough to speak.
“WHAT?”<
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“Shhh, she’ll hear you!” Asher said, placing a hand over Raven’s mouth.
The dark haired beauty did not so much as turn to look at them in spite of the commotion. Instead she made some notes on the clipboard she held and moved to the next computer.
Asher released his hold on Raven’s mouth. “She abused her powers—We suspect it was when she was in college, or right after she graduated. Anyway, the situation was bad enough that the KQ judicial system actually passed judgment on her, so she’ll have a criminal record for life. She probably can’t get any other job besides this.”
Raven frowned. “A felony is no joke, what is she doing working here?”
Asher shrugged. “She’s nice, Ray-Ray. Who knows what she did—maybe it wasn’t her fault.”
Raven slowly nodded as she internally decided she was going to bring Teagan Kooper up to her father. Having a fellow magic abuser brush shoulders with library staff members would be awfully convenient for Fox and the Errësi.
“Anyway, the girl is gorgeous. And she knows her tech talk. But she’s just as socially awkward as we are, if not more so,” Aron said, brushing water droplets off his jacket.
“Just because she’s socially awkward doesn’t mean she would date you. She’s 26, Aron. Give it up,” Asher said, heaving his eyes to the ceiling before adding for Raven’s benefit. “He’s been rocking this ridiculous crush on her since we started working here over two years ago.”
“It is not ridiculous,” Aron said, a pout crossing his lips.
“You’re so cute,” Raven said, reaching out to pat Aron’s cheek.
“Come on, we’ll introduce you. Then we better leave or Aron will melt,” Asher said, starting for the computers. “Teagan, hey! How are ya?”
The gorgeous girl looked up, and Raven was shocked by the innocence pooled in her eyes. “Montamos brothers,” she said, looking back and forth between the twins. “You have a friend?” she asked, her eyes falling on Raven.
“Ah, yeah. Teagan this is Rachel McCellen. We call her Ray-Ray, or Ray for short,” Asher said, rubbing the back of his neck.
Teagan nodded slightly, making her silky hair move. “It is good to meet you Ray-Ray,” she said in a surprisingly smooth voice before turning to the twins. “Congratulations on your good fortune of finding someone who can put up with you both,” she finished in all seriousness and good will.
Aron shyly blushed and looked at the ground. “Thanks,” he said, truly pleased.
“See? Awkward,” Asher muttered before speaking to all. “How are the computers?”
Teagan looked at the two computers that were on. “Fairly well considering the state this area was in. I believe there are a few problems that need to be addressed—some of them originating from your more incompetent patrons—but only a few computers were completely destroyed,” she said, looking at the next computer in the lineup. When it did not turn on she slammed her fist on the top of the tower. Raven pulled back in surprise, but the computer blinked to life moments after the abuse.
“I spent the morning retrieving files for your director and stabilizing the server computers. Although why you need a server when circulation services are unavailable is beyond my comprehension,” Teagan said, making a note on her clipboard.
“Ah, so you think you’ll be around for a while?” Asher asked.
“Indeed,” Teagan said, moving onto the next computer. “I must inspect your printer—which I believe will no longer be useable—and I believe Greg has plans to consume the remaining donuts in your kitchen. He will have to be careful or his wife will know he is cheating on his diet.”
“Right, okay, we’ll see you around then. Take care,” Asher said, grabbing his twin.
“I intend to,” Teagan said, making another note.
Raven followed Asher, who dragged his twin into the kitchen. Sure enough, Greg was there eating a donut.
“So, what do you think of her?” Asher prompted, still hauling his twin down the hallway.
“…She really means everything she says, doesn’t she? I didn’t detect any sarcasm or ill intent behind her words,” Raven said, hesitating.
“Yeah, what she says would sound totally mean coming from someone else. That’s just Teagan. She means well, she just doesn’t have a friendly filter on her mouth,” Asher said.
“She’s so gorgeous it doesn’t matter,” Aron sighed.
Raven eyed the younger twin. “If you keep mooning over just her beauty I’ll be forced to assault you on behalf of women everywhere.”
“Noted,” Aron said, finally regaining control of his feet and twisting out of his twin’s grasp.
“Which reminds me there is something else we need to discuss: I can’t believe you two told Shannon I was hit by a car,” Raven said as the trio rounded a corner.
“Okay. Now that was definitely a topic hop,” Aron said, pointing at Raven with a finger. “Topic hops are not allowed. I cannot follow the mysterious ways in which your mind works.”
“Not just any car. A white Mercedes. That’s very important,” Asher gravely nodded. “Besides, the false accident report said that.”
“What’s the big deal anyway? She was going to demand a reason for your bruised banana skin,” Aron said.
“Yeah, but did you have to give her such detailed information? The report was falsified, in case you’ve forgotten,” Raven said as they entered the hallway that housed the twins’ room.
“The best cover up stories, Ray-Ray, involve details. You of all people should know that,” Aron said.
“Yeah, we know what we’re doing,” Asher said with a dooming smirk, stopping to open the door to the Montamos’ room.
“I hope so,” Raven said, shedding her coat and backpack. She tossed it on the couch after Aron flopped down on it.
“Ouch, so I take it we’re not playing video games?” he asked, coughing when the backpack hit him in the stomach.
Raven shook her head. “No, I want to test my magic.”
“You what?” Asher said, whirling around.
“I’ve never gotten sick after using my magic before. Not like yesterday,” Raven said, folding her arms in front of her.
“Never?” Aron said, sitting up.
“Well, I threw up the first time it happened, but I think that was pure shock,” Raven shrugged.
“How often have you read stuff to life?” Asher asked.
“Maybe six times, including Saturday. My family doesn’t know about my magic; I try to keep it hidden,” Raven said.
“So you’ve had this ability since you became a page turner?” Aron asked.
Raven carefully nodded. “Since receiving my page turner ring, yes.”
“It’s probably safe to say it isn’t going away then,” the younger twin thoughtfully nodded.
Asher set his backpack down and removed his coat. “Ok, we should go to the fiction section if you want to test it. The larger area will be a help.”
“Wouldn’t it be better to do it in here?” Raven nervously asked. “Greg and Teagan might find out.”
Aron shook his head. “No, Asher is right. Our room is too small. Plus if something happens I would rather be a reasonable distance from Director Eastgate’s office. Teagan and Greg mostly orbit around the computers and the kitchen. It’ll be fine, they won’t find out.”
“Yeah, we can even take a tunnel to fiction. They’ll never know we went up there,” Asher said, crossing the room to dig through the twins’ artifacts.
“What are you looking for?” Raven asked, peering over Asher’s shoulder with curiosity.
“Here it is. Our fairy lamp,” Asher said. He held out what looked like an old Japanese paper lantern. It was made of yellowing white paper that glowed in the fluorescent light of the room.
Raven gasped and grabbed the lantern, pulling it closer when she noticed the lights inside. There were three or four floating lights that lazily drifted inside the lantern. Raven stared at the lights with wide eyes.
“Relax,” Ar
on said from the couch. “It’s a fake. It’s actually battery powered. Came from some scam artist shopkeeper that sold them as actual fairy lights to KQ tourists. Although I’m betting his customers weren’t particularly nice people if they were buying a fairy lamp. They’ve been outlawed for at least a century or two.”
“A gift from your father?” Raven asked, raising an eyebrow as Aron rolled off the couch.
“Yes. This one he actually knows about too,” Asher said. “It works better than a flashlight.”
“Ok, off to fiction we go,” Aron said, leading the way out of the twins’ room. They followed the snaking hallway before reaching the ship painting. The twins opened the passageway with great efficiency and led the way through the tunnel, drawing pictures in the air with the glowing light of their rings as they went.
Eventually they stopped at a ladder bolted to the side of the wall and climbed it. At the top of the ladder was a trap door. Aron threw it open, popping Raven and the twins directly into the fiction area.
“Here, any book will do, right? Try this one,” Aron said, plucking a book from a shelf as Asher closed the tunnel door.
Raven took the book from Aron, leaning against a study table as she read the title. “Treasure Island? Funny, I wouldn’t have pegged you as the pirate type,” she grinned.
Aron exhaled heavily through his nose and looked away.
“Yeah that was his favorite book as a kid. Read the part where the Hispaniola was taken over, would you? I bet that would be awesome to see a real representation of,” Asher said, standing when he finished with the door. He crossed the gap between the shelves to stand next to Raven, his arm brushing hers.
“You might want to make it smaller than a life sized model. I don’t think the library is tall enough to hold the ship’s masts. You can control the size of your magic like we can control the scale of our illusions, right?” Aron asked.