The Librarian's Daughter The Story of Abi VanHaven

by M.M. Gavillet

  Chapter Seven

  Roan was outside watering his plants when I pulled up. I got out as my head spun slightly and I steadied myself before heading towards him.

  “Abi,” he said with surprise. “I thought you were with the guardians. What happened? We were worried about you.”

  “I escaped from them. I…I don’t know if I can trust them. Nate was there and I know I don’t trust him and they drugged me to tell them the truth.”

  “Freakin’ guardians. Good to screw first before they screw you.” Beannca came out of the door all dressed in yellow. “Miss us did ya?”

  “Roan, I don’t know what to do. Is Lou here?” I asked ignoring Beannca.

  “She went to get her baby.” He motioned for me to go inside.

  “Her baby?” I questioned.

  The sound of a motor rumbling came from behind me. I turned to see Lou getting off a black motorcycle.

  “Her baby.” Beannca nudged my shoulder looking at the motorcycle then at me and smiled.

  “Abi,” Lou said after she took off her helmet. “Is everything o.k.?”

  “No, it isn’t. Can we go inside?”

  I sat down on the couch and tilted my head back on the cushion.

  “We were worried about you, Abi. You were poisoned by a dart and Kelan thought it might be Circle members after you.” Lou sat beside me and gave me a glass of water.

  “Where is Kelan anyhow? Why isn’t he with you?” Roan asked.

  I took a sip as they all encircled me like hungry wolves waiting to devour what I knew. “Kelan is in Blackwood with Nate and Barnabus. I…had to leave in a hurry. They drugged me with truth serum that Kelan made and forced me to tell them what I knew.”

  There was a pause of silence with exchanged looks of confusion. “Is that it?” Beannca asked shaking her head.

  “Isn’t that enough? They could’ve just asked or talked to me instead of secretly drugging me.”

  “I can understand that you’re upset, but I do know that’s one of the ways of the guardians.” Roan shrugged his shoulders. “Like a rule or…” He looked up at the ceiling trying to find the right word.

  “Protocol, that’s what Kelan called it,” I finally said.

  “It isn’t right what they do. Going unchecked they can do whatever they please to whomever they want.” Ella stood behind me with her cheeks turning a brighter pink then going pale again. “Abi did right leaving that inhospitable place. Kelan should know better.”

  “Yes, Ella, but he wants to be a guardian. He has to play by the rules.” Roan looked at her.

  Ella’s lips tightened and her skin purged with many colors all racing just under her skin. “Guardians, shmardians…I don’t care.” Ella stood straighter if that was possible from perfect posture. “Don’t you think it’s about time that things change? Their ways are obsolete.”

  “I’ll have to agree with fancy pants here, they’re not up to current times.” Beannca chimed in pointing at Ella with her thumb.

  “Thank you Beannca,” Ella said with a nod.

  Silence filled the room again and I let out a deep sigh.

  “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have come here. I’ve tried Grace’s phone so many times and…I don’t have anyone to turn to. But…if you want me to leave, I will, I don’t want to get you guys in trouble.” I stated as sincere as I felt it.

  “Well, I’m already looking at another year in rehab and possibly book time if I’m not careful,” Beannca said casually. “But this is for a good cause and…I like you librarian, there’s something about you that I like. So, I’m in because it’s been way too boring around here lately.” Beannca’s large eyes scanned everyone else’s.

  “I’m in because I think guardians have had their heads in the sand and ass’s in the air for too long,” Ella bluntly said.

  “Think about what you’re saying.” Roan stepped around so he was in front of us. He pushed his long bangs from his eyes leaving a dirt smudge across his forehead. “Everything that we have worked for is at stake.” He looked at me. “Abi, I like you, but I think you need to go back to the guardians. They’re the ones that can help you, not a bunch of benefactors.” His eyes shifted to the rest of the group.

  “Well, I guess that means tinkerbell here is out,” Beannca said crossing her arms.

  “You’re not listening…” Roan waved his hands in front of him.

  Lou then stepped beside him putting her hand on Roan’s shoulder and then nodded as he stepped back. I didn’t have to ask who the lead benefactor was here, everyone looked up to Lou.

  “I understand Roan’s concerns, but at the same time I see flaws with the guardians.” Lou took in a deep breath. “I think what we have to see here is what is all involved. We are familiar with the Circle—all of us.” Everyone nodded as Lou met with everyone’s eyes. “It may not be right in the rules and regulation book, but I think we need to help Abi.” Lou smiled slightly at me.

  “You want to risk everything?” Roan turned to Lou.

  Lou looked at him before she spoke. “When you risked going into the Shadowlands, did you think about rules and regulations set up by someone who doesn’t understand your world but wants to rule it?”

  Roan looked away biting his lower lip. His eyes darkened and became a dead serious as he took a deep breath and then cleared his throat. “You’re right. It’s high time we made our stand instead of following the rules.” He then looked towards the window and walked over to it. “It’s time for this world to see what a gnome is made of.”

  Everyone was bursting with excitement as if it had been bottled up inside of them just waiting for an excuse to get out. I wasn’t sure what to expect or what our plan of action was going to be, but the benefactors seemed to be thrilled that there would be one. I hope they didn’t expect me to come up with a master plan.

  I sat on the couch as everyone scattered. Their voices echoed, but I didn’t listen as I held my phone in my hands. I had just tried calling Grace again when Kelan tried calling me.

  I held my finger over the answer button, I hesitated. I didn’t want to talk to him. I know he was just doing what he was told and maybe they meant no harm and maybe I was overreacting, but I didn’t care. In my book it wasn’t right. I ignored the call just as my phone went off again, this time it was Grace.

  I couldn’t answer it fast enough and cradled the phone so I wouldn’t drop it in my shaking hands.

  “Grace! Where are you? Are you o.k.?” I asked in my frantic voice.

  “Abi, slow down, I’m fine,” she said almost laughing. “I’m sorry I didn’t call you earlier, but the guardians have me in hiding and I’m going to have to make this quick because I don’t have much phone time. Are you with the guardians right now?” I could feel the palms of my hands sweat.

  “No, but I…”

  “Then get Kelan to take you to Barnabus. He knows where I’m at.” I could hear voices in the background. “This is important Abi, I’ve got to go.” Her voice trailed off to an abrupt click of the phone shutting.

  “Grace…Grace,” I repeated her name and looked at my phone. She had hung up.

  I could feel myself tremble as I looked at my phone.

  “Abigail, dear, is everything alright?’ Ella came in holding a teacup.

  “No it isn’t.” I stated plainly. “Grace, she just called me.”

  “Well is she alright? Where is she?” Ella sat down with her nearly perfect posture. I immediately straightened as I sat next to her.

  “She’s in hiding.” The rest of the benefactors came in shortly after Ella sat down.

  “Where is she at?” Roan asked.

  “I don’t know, but she said to have Kelan take me to Barnabus.” I rolled my phone in my hands and flipped it open to Kelan’s number.

  “You should listen to her. Grace is wise and her I know you can trust,” Roan said confidently as he shook his head.

&n
bsp; My phone again went off. Kelan was at the other end. I looked at all of them as they nodded for me to pick it up.

  “Kelan,” I said just as I put it to my ear.

  “Abi, stay where you are!” his voice was shaking and was breaking up. “I’m coming…get…stay….”

  “I’m at the halfway house, Kelan—” Static crackled from my phone as I blurted it out hoping he heard me. I shut it and looked at everyone. “He said to stay here.”

  “I still don’t trust guardians.” Ella protested. “Sister,” she looked over at Lou, “isn’t it time we took action?”

  “Things can never be the way they were sister.” Lou looked at her sister. “Don’t you understand? We are not what we once were, we are in this world and…we can’t, we simply just can’t.” Lou emphasized her words.

  “Face it, a dog doesn’t change its spots,” Ella said with a raise of her eyebrow.

  “That’s a leopard, not a dog. I think you’re thinking of the saying ‘you can’t teach old dogs new tricks.’” Roan stepped in between them and corrected Ella who didn’t pay attention to him.

  “You can’t change who we are, Lou Hummingbird.” Ella stepped closer to her sister. “Don’t you remember what it felt like to have our full power? Not some watered down version that only satisfies our cravings for seconds of each day. Yes, we can move furniture and make the vacuum cleaner run itself, but what about what we had and you know where it’s at.”

  Lou for once grew pale and bit her lip walking away. I looked at Ella who tenderly gazed at her sister.

  “It could be the death of us.” Lou stood looking out the window with her hands on her hips.

  “We’re going to die anyway.” Ella went to her sister and stood beside her.

  I looked over at Roan who was tearing up. “Oh, just do it, for old-times-sake. I hate to see you guys in such a tender moment because….”

  “You’re emotional aren’t you?” Beannca stood beside him holding a tissue box.

  “It’s a downfall of the gnome race.” Roan blew his large nose that sounded like a horn going off. Beannca just wrinkled her nose at him.

  “Well, what’s it going to be, witches or no witches?” Beannca asked as both Ella and Lou turned around and faced us.

  Lou looked at her sister then back at us resting her eyes on me. She smiled holding onto Ella’s hand. “If I’m going to live a mortal life I’d rather live an exciting one than a boring one.”

  “The magic is ours, not theirs.” Ella looked at Lou.

  “Then you better acquire some pretty quick.” Roan pointed out the window as a car sparkling like grey topaz stopped in front of the house.

  “Beannca, please tell me it’s someone that you’ve been messing around with.” Lou looked back at her with worried eyes.

  Beannca watched as the door opened on the driver’s side and a blonde haired woman stepped out dressed in a black skirt and jacket wearing sunglasses.

  “Danielle,” Beannca said in a questioning voice. “I don’t know…” She stopped as the other door opened and my mouth dropped to see another woman get out with hair hanging like a sheet of brown silk. Her red lips curled into a smile as she looked at the halfway house. My mouth dropped even farther and I stepped back looking at Jenna.

  “She’s…I mean…that’s my cousin Jenna.” I proclaimed finally.

  “Your cousin?” Ella questioned. “What’s she doing with a siren?”

  The door burst open and both of the black clad women stalked in like runway models with spiky high heels that could double as weapons. Jenna followed Danielle with their footsteps echoing like a warning. Danielle stood tall and gazed at all of us like we were inferior to her. Jenna only followed her lead.

  “Danielle, what are you doing here?” Beannca asked stepping in front of her.

  “Move aside siren. My quam isn’t with you.” Danielle folded her arms and then motioned with her middle and index finger pinched together at Beannca. She then waved them back and forth looking casually at Beannca then at the window.

  Suddenly, Beannca was thrown towards the window like she was a rag doll being tossed around by a spoiled brat. Glass shattered into fragments as Beannca went through the window screaming.

  “She’s a witch!” Ella yelled through clenched teeth.

  Danielle tilted her head to the side with an amused look. “Witch,” she seemed surprised. “Oh, I’m much worse darling.”

  Lou waved her hands through the air in twirling motions as the colorful plates that hung on the wall shook coming to life and then cut through the air aiming towards Danielle.

  She ducked along with Jenna and the plates flew over their heads crashing into the wall behind them like confetti. Danielle sprung up flipping back her hair with her hand. I watched her as her eyes changed from hazel to nearly black and her already white-blonde hair turned to pure white.

  Crouching, she tilted her head towards me and snarled with gleaming pointed teeth. She had an animalistic beauty to her that I couldn’t help to stare at. With her onyx eyes, so black that the pupil blended in with the darkness, Danielle deepened her snarl like a rabid animal.

  I stepped back falling over the coffee table as Roan tried to stop her only to be thrown several feet backwards with a push from Danielle’s delicate hand. I hit the floor hard as Danielle pounced on me but was quickly pulled away by the hand of Donavan.

  “Get her out of here!” Donavan yelled holding down the white and black Danielle who frothed at the mouth. She wasn’t the pretty girl I had caught having sex with Nate. She was something else, something indescribable. Danielle was a monster with claws and teeth and venom and she was after me.

  In my stupor of awe, I didn’t even realize that Lou had grabbed my wrist and was dragging me out the door towards her motorcycle.

  “Get on the back and hang on!” Lou yelled kick starting her motorcycle.

  It took off and I quickly latched onto her as we gained speed. Gravel spun under our tires and all I could hope for was to not slam into an oncoming vehicle. I closed my eyes blocking them from the wind as Lou’s cape curled around me.

  Suddenly, I felt weightlessness and the road smoothed to where I could feel no bumps. Slowly I opened my eyes to see the road we were on was nothing but a tiny ribbon of grey-white curling through the lush green trees several feet below us.

  “Lou!” I yelled clutching onto her.

  She laughed slightly. “Great isn’t it?”

  “We’re flying!”

  “Yes, we are and it’s much better than a broom, don’t you think?” She chuckled as we dipped down.

  “Where are we going?”

  “To a safe place,” she yelled back as the countryside passed beneath us and all I could hear was the wind rushing past me.

  Cities, towns, pastures and fields of growing crops of beans and corn came and went until the landscape changed into roads, train tracks and tall buildings. We hadn’t been traveling for very long, or at least I thought because there were no cities this big anywhere near Minton.

  Cars bumper to bumper traveled on the roads that led to the tall buildings like arteries and veins to a heart.

  “What is this town?” I asked Lou.

  “Chicago, my dear, hang on! We’re landing!” I hung on as the air pulled on my hair and pushed on me nearly taking my breath away.

  Buildings flashed by as we came closer and I thought surely someone would see us. A motorcycle in the air with an old lady and a red headed girl riding it isn’t a normal sight or possible by the laws of physics.

  Glass, metal and brick buildings went by us like different trees in a forest. Lou descended rapidly slowing the motor and gracefully landed on the slick black street right behind a cab. Cars were around us, people went this way and that and the air smelled of exhaust fumes and hot metal. I gazed around waiting for someone to point at us. No one did, it was like we were just another motorist among a
river of vehicles.

  “Lou,” I asked meekly.

  “Uh huh,” she leaned back slightly as the light turned green and off we went.

  I tilted backwards then steadied myself, not ready for the sudden take off. “No one is noticing us.”

  “Do we really want them to?” she asked with a slight chuckle.

  “Well, no…I guess not. But I mean is that no one seen us.” Lou turned the corner sharp as a horn blared at us and Lou mumbled something I couldn’t understand.

  “It’s magic my dear mixed with a little illusion. Otherwise, we would be making the Chicago Tribune.”

  I had never been to Chicago and didn’t know what building was what. They were all tall, like giants of stone and mortar and metal. I felt like a tiny ant among them and through the maze of streetlights, zooming cars and rivers of people we sat in front of a large building with an arched entry with the name “Fisher Building” carved from the stone. Above that were two cherubs holding a wreath that had what looked like a fish in the center. That made sense since it was called the Fisher Building.

  “343 South Dearborn Street.” Lou got off the motorcycle as we stood looking at the building. She let out a sigh and then smiled like she was greeting an old friend. “The Green Man lives here.”

  “You mean the wall sculpture you had hanging above your fireplace?” I asked remembering the metal face with the wild hair and vacant eyes.

  “That piece of art doesn’t do him justice. I bought it a long time ago from someone who was just learning to do metalwork. I bought it to make them feel good.” Lou’s eyes twinkled and she shrugged her shoulders with a smile.

  “So what do we do now?” I asked as someone came up behind us.

  “You can’t park that here.” A man with a suit and tie on said to us as he passed by and went in the building looking at Lou and then motioning with his hands before the door swallowed him.

  “Guardians,” she shook her head.

  “How do you know?” I asked.

  “I’ve been around for a long time, I can smell them.” She then cracked her knuckles and then waved her hand over the bike. It dissolved slowly to dust that whipped around curling between me and Lou until she opened her coat pocket. Every last bit of it went inside her pocket and she patted it with a smile.

  “That’s my baby.” Her voice had the tone a mother would use to encourage a child in a deed well done.

  I looked around at the oblivious faces of the people that walked by. It was magic, I knew this and it was Lou’s magic.

  “What about Victoria and the Circle…what about Jenna…” Lou waved me to stop.

  “The Green Man will help us and don’t worry, there’re four very capable guardians that I’m sure will follow us here.”

  “But how do you know Lou?” I stopped her.

  She smiled at me and then gently pinched my chin between her fingers and smiled. “I’ve been in worse situations.” Lou dropped her hand and stepped away from me. “Come on, the apartment entrance is over here.”

  I followed her around the corner to a revolving door. She stopped and waited for people to pass through, then she looked both ways and through the glass.

  “Hurry, we don’t want anyone accidentally coming with us.” Lou grabbed my hand just as the door stopped and then started twirling once inside. “Stay close to me and don’t move.” She instructed.

  I wasn’t sure if this was going to be something like her motorcycle and we would be propelled through the air or suddenly drop down into the earth. Everything became black with only a few seconds of flickering lights. I could see only fragments of where we had stood outside and people still walked by as though nothing was happening until the blackness swallowed the outside and a humming sound vibrated through me. We were accelerating upwards—very quickly. Maybe we would shoot right out the top of the building which looked to be about twenty stories high.

  The elevator, or whatever it was, stopped suddenly with a jerk and a pleasant ding as a door slid open. I cautiously stepped out following Lou who appeared very comfortable with what had just happened.

  “I’m not sure what apartment he is in right now.” She looked down each hallway that went to our right and then our left. My vision blurred from the length of it that looked like it went on for infinity.

  “What floor are we on?” I asked looking up at the depthless blue ceiling that hovered overhead and twinkled with tiny lights and then faded into the cream colored marble that was etched in gold. Everything was bathed in light that shifted from gold to greenish in color. I felt like I had walked into a jewelry box, a jewelry box of a queen. Small niches held sculptures of fishes, mermaids and other sea creatures that had a mystic quality to them and the more I looked at them, the more I thought they were staring back at me.

  Lou started to walk down a hallway and then stopped, second guessing herself. She turned to me about to speak, when the sound of someone laughing echoed, bouncing off the marble walls.

  It was a musical voice that curled around my ears in a pleasant tone almost like it was getting ready to sing. It was followed by another voice saying something in a whisper. I moved closer to it hoping to see who it was.

  “Ah, girls,” Lou said as I turned around. “Do you know what apartment The Green Man is in?”

  I stood a distance away taking in their appearance. They were both the same height as me with long delicate arms and oval shaped faces. One had blonde hair with what looked like gold braids intertwined with her curling an uncurling hair that seemed to move by itself. The other one had brown hair with copper colored braids and the same curling hair. Both were dressed in black, tight-fitting pants and a long coat trimmed with velvet and lace with a high collar and short sleeves ending with black lace at their wrists. They both had a hat in their hands. One was adorned with a large rhinestone pin and the other with peacock feathers.

  “You mean Jack?” the blonde girl asked as the dark haired girl glanced between me and Lou.

  “Jack?’ Lou questioned.

  “I know who you’re talking about and he goes by Jack now.” Her voice was as soft as velvet. “He is down that way, apartment 25A.”

  “Thank you.” Lou bowed slightly as the two girls then seemed to levitate just inches off the ground.

  They nodded their heads and then moved closer to me. I stepped backwards as they both gazed at me. They parted slightly and suddenly from behind their backs was an explosion of white glitter.

  I fell to the ground as they passed by looking at me with wings protruding from their back, just like a butterfly that were clear and caught many different colors as they fluttered past me.

  “Sorry,” the dark haired one said with a crooked smile.

  I watched them go to the center of the marbled lobby and look upward facing one another.

  “I can tell I’m putting on weight, I can hardy lift myself up anymore,” the blonde one said still looking up.

  “Yeah, those cakes are just too good to not eat. We’ll have to not come so much—once a month tops,” the dark haired one replied.

  “Agreed,” they said in unison before jumping into the air and being swallowed by the navy blue ceiling and twinkling stars.

  I stood up and walked over to where they were. The dark blue ceiling twinkled back at me.

  “Come on Abi.” Lou’s looked at me over her shoulder as she walked down the hallway.

  I caught up and walked beside her with her skirt curling around me like an arm. “Those were fairies, right?”

  “Those were fairies.” Lou confirmed with a sideways glance. “And the tales told about them in the human world don’t lie—that’s very rare since fabrication is a specialty among the humans. Fairies can be good or bad, helpful or just plain nasty. A lot depends on where they are from and how you treat them.” She shook her head. “Fickle little creatures.”

  “I take it this is a magical apartment then?” I asked
guessing my guess was pretty close to the truth.

  “No,” Lou said. “This is still the Fisher Building but we are on the thirteenth floor. Another superstition that humans created… it’s just a number for goodness sake. No numbers are unlucky; remember that, it takes a spell to make something unlucky.” She glanced at me with her steady eyes as I nodded my head in remembering what she said.

  We stopped only after passing several doors lining the richly decorated hallway to stand in front of apartment 25A.

  Lou looked at the number and let out a sigh. “Well, let’s see what The Green—I mean Jack is up to.”

  No sooner had she finished knocking than the door opened to a loud mix of flute-like music, laughing and yelling. I was amazed at how quiet the hallway was compared to the amount of noise that came from the apartment. They must have excellent noise blocking walls and doors.

  A dark cloaked man stood in front of us. His face was shrouded in shadows as his head stiffly moved from me to Lou.

  “Invitations,” he asked holding out his hand.

  I looked at Lou and her at me.

  “Invitation…” Lou’s voice was almost lost in the noise from the party.

  “Lou, is that you?” A man about the same height as Lou wearing a royal blue velvet pants and jacket stood pulling back his sequined mask revealing tan skin with rounded cheeks and hair that looked like it couldn’t decide what color to be, so it grew in all shades and in clumps like each shade was fighting for a territory on his head. “It’s alright, their invitation is a verbal one.” The cloaked figure stepped aside nearly melting into the wall behind the door. “Please, come in and join my party!” He flew his hands into the air and stepped back.

  The apartment was full of people or, actually, I guess that’s what I would call them. There were fairies, just like the ones I saw in the hallway. Now I could see their wings folded neatly behind them and flickering with the disco ball that hung over head. There were cloaked figures all in black that hung along the wall clinging to the shadows in groups and then there were several with brightly colored hair of blues, greens, oranges—it reminded me of a box of crayons. Most were dressed in long coats etched with lace and several hats some were wide brimmed with feathers and others were like Kelan’s top hat. They sat neatly on the long dining table that looked like it could seat thirty.

  “It has been way too long since I last spoke to you. That was in France, right… in front of the Louvre.” He stood in front of her placing both of his hands on her arms.

  “Yes, I do believe it was.” Her voice was sweet and rung with the happiness of a distant memory.

  They stood facing one another with his hand in hers. He gently kissed it as her cheeks flushed.

  “Those were good days—days before I was confined to a stone forest with hardly any trees—I mean hardly any trees.” The man looked from me to Lou. “Don’t get me wrong, I like what the guardians have done for me, but I belong with trees and streams and…well, the flora and the fauna!” He nearly jumped up and down.

  “I miss those days too.” Lou confided in him. “So, you go by the name Jack.” He rolled his eyes.

  “Who came up with that name?” He shook his head. “I’m The Green Man for goodness sakes!” Jack motioned to himself. “It’s all for safety reasons and rules and…it’s something that the guardians just plainly wanted me to do. It was an agreement and I agreed to it, so therefore I have no choice but to agree.” He continued shaking his head as the music changed from slow to fast.

  All the guests intermingled into a kaleidoscope of colors mixing with glitter that seemed to float throughout the air.

  Jack waved his hand through the air swishing at the fine dust. “Fairies do sweat a lot. I’m going to have to have the cleaning lady come an extra day this week.” He nearly hit me with his bony hand. I flinched back and accidently bumped into one of the cloaked figures. I stepped out of the way letting the figure pass. Jack smiled as the glitter started to swirl around him again.

  “And who do we have here? I don’t believe I’ve met you before, though,” he placed his finger to his mouth and tapped his lip “though you look familiar.”

  I started to answer when I noticed his eyes. The iris of them shifted from green to blue to aqua. The colors melted almost reminding me of the ocean with the varying depths of blues and greens.

  “This is Abigail VanHaven. She’s the daughter of Emma VanHaven.” Lou motioned to me.

  “Ah, a librarian as herself to a costume party,” Jack looked up and down at me. “You’re not in your social attire.” Jack pointed out as we passed through the dancing crowd wearing clothes made of lace and velvet reminding me of Victorian style clothing. “But that’s alright.” He put his lanky arm around me. “I never thought I would meet the daughter of my once neighbor.”

  “Wait,” I said stopping in the middle of the dance floor with several couples twirling around us. “My mother was your neighbor.”

  He shook his head and grinned. “Yes,” he said in his animated voice. “And I’m tired of watching it…I’m sooo glad you came to relieve me of it.” Jack walked over to a long bar and I followed right behind him. “But first Miss VanHaven, I must attend to my party. I would be a bad host if I parted right in the middle of it.”

  Lou motioned to Jack to wait for her and then turned to me. “Abi, we will be fine here. This place is secure it has been for a long time. I’ve already contacted Ella and they are on their way here and have your cousin, Jenna, in custody. We are to stay here.”

  “But what about Victoria?” I whispered her name.

  Lou forced a smile and put her hand on my shoulder. “This place is secure…and soon, we’ll have the scepter. Jack is a little different than most and if we are to get the scepter then we have to play by his rules. Believe me, it’s much easier that way.”

  “Come along darling we have guests to entertain.” Jack pulled at her hand.

  “Don’t worry my little librarian, all good things come to those who play their cards right.” He then winked at me and gave me a glass of champagne.

  “Don’t you mean all good things come to those who wait?” I tried to correct him.

  “No,” he said flatly. “Those who wait usually get nothing because they are waiting—you have to play the game well to get what you want!”

  Lou took him into the crowd of colorful people that danced and swirled with glitter filling the room like tiny flecks of snow. I looked at the pink liquid in my glass. I could only guess it was champagne, but really wasn’t sure. I swirled it around as tiny bubbles exploded expelling something shimmering that floated in the liquid.

  “What you have in your hand is called Nectar. It really is good and…with no distasteful after effects of mortal liquors.” I looked to see a boy about my age standing beside me dressed in a long grey coat with velvet trim. He was taller than me with soft hazel eyes and wavy hair that was a light brown verging on a dark blonde. He put his own glass to his lips and took a sip looking at me the whole time. “See, I didn’t turn into anything unnatural.”

  I then looked at my glass and then at him.

  “My name is Benjamin, by the way. I don’t believe I’ve seen you around before.” His voice was so charming it made goose bumps on my arms.

  “No, I’ve never been here before.” I managed to say still entranced by him.

  “I see your friends with Louetta Hummingbird.” I looked around the room for her and then back at Benjamin.

  “I should probably be finding her,” I said wanting to and not wanting to get away from Benjamin.

  “But first tell me your name.” He caught me by my arm. “That is, if you don’t mind. I like to meet who Jack has at his parties.”

  I looked at him for a moment. “Abigail,” I said my full first name.

  “Nice to have you here on my floor,” said Benjamin with a nod, smile and then clanked his glass to mine.
The sound rung like a bell that reverberated through the gliterized air.

  “So do you live here?” Benjamin started to intrigue me.

  “Yes,” he replied. “And now a question for me if you don’t mind,” he said pulling two bar stools out.

  He motioned for me to sit and hesitantly I joined him not knowing what else to do. I didn’t really want to play the question and answer game, but I don’t think I was going to get anywhere with Jack either. He smiled at me obviously thinking of a good question.

  “What’s your last name?”

  “VanHaven,” I answered quickly. “My turn.”

  “Lou said this is the thirtieth floor and mortals don’t know it exists, so how can it be here and no one knows about it?” Maybe I could learn more talking to him than chasing Lou down.

  “Good question.” He nodded his head. “Magic,” he smiled crookedly at his vague answer. I guess I would have to be a little more detailed in my questions, but two can play at that.

  “My turn again.” Benjamin gazed at me with his hazel eyes. “What brings you here without a written invitation and not wearing any costume or at least your official uniform, especially since very few librarians and guardians respond to Jack’s invitations?”

  I could feel my face flush as I scanned the crowd for Lou and then back at Benjamin who smiled waiting for my answer. “Spur of the moment and had nothing better to do.”

  “Glad you could come then, Miss VanHaven.”

  “I think it’s my turn for a question.” He nodded his head and looked amused at the game we were playing.

  “What is your last name and why do you live on the thirtieth floor?”

  “That’s two questions and I will answer the first one you asked. My last name is Atwood.” He looked at me like it should mean something to me, but it didn’t. He could’ve said his last name was Smith and he would’ve got the same reaction.

  “Shall we go on with the questions?” he asked and I nodded my head.

  “Do you have any relation to the VanHaven’s that lived here before?” His eyes turned inquisitive and almost hard.

  “I’m not sure.” I answered truthfully just as my phone buzzed. I looked at Benjamin and he nodded for me to take it.

  “Kelan, where are you at?” I stood up and went over to the large window that opened to the city around me.

  “Just about there. Are you o.k.?” His voice was filled with concern.

  “Yes, I’m with Lou we are…”

  “I know where you’re at and we’re just about there,” Kelan said quickly. “Stay close to Lou and I’ll be there soon.”

  Kelan hung up and I shut my phone looking up at Benjamin.

  “Boyfriend?” He took a sip of Nectar not taking his eyes from me.

  “No. He’s a guardian.” I could feel my cheeks flush.

  “Ah, I see.” He stood up. “Shall we,” he said motioning to the dance floor.

  “I’m sorry I don’t…”

  Benjamin didn’t say a word only smiled and took me by the hand. “Nonsense. Dance is life set to music. It’s something in us all.” His words pulled on me, drawing me in while my mind protested; my heart was too curious of him. “Come and let me lead the way for you.”

  His touch was warm and tingled with electricity. We stood a few inches apart with his hand on my waist and holding onto my other hand. His mesmerizing eyes smiled back at me. We moved slowly to the music set to a woman’s voice singing. I didn’t pay attention to the lyrics, but it sounded romantic—like it told a story of two souls that finally found one another.

  Slowly we made our way to the center of the dance floor. Fairies, the wild colored hair people, tall and short people all moved to the same rhythm. I felt as one with everyone, like nothing else mattered and I had entered a different time a different place…

  “Abi,” a voice said behind me.

  With stars slowly fading from my eyes I turned to see Kelan. I stopped dancing and looked at his confused and almost hurt face.

  “What are you doing?” he asked.

  I stood with open mouth quivering as whatever enchantment Benjamin had on me slowly dissolved into reality.