by Valia Lind
That is another area of expertise I'd like to add to my list, protection wards and spells. I'm hoping the library can help me glean some information on that as well. I don't ever want to feel as helpless as I was in that barn structure with Aiden. I couldn't do anything with my magic, and that makes me a very useless witch.
The school has been implementing nightly security check ups, but they're not locking us in our rooms, in case we need to get out. I've been studying the security patterns since they upped the amount of patrols, and I'm about to put into test just how well I have it figured out.
It's not exactly ideal that the greenhouse and the entrance to the library are on the opposite side of the school. The helpful aspect of this adventure is that the school has plenty of nooks and crannies for me to hide in. The moment I see a shadow move, I dart into one of the indents in the hall or behind a pillar. It's slow going, but I manage to stay off anyone's radar.
When I finally reach the greenhouse, I'm surprised no one is stationed outside. It would make sense to be on rotation everywhere else, but this seems like a vulnerable entry point. Although, we've already discovered that we've got a wolf in sheep's clothing amongst us. Maybe it's pointless to try to keep someone from getting in when they're already here.
Once I'm inside the greenhouse, I do a quick scan but see and hear nothing. Satisfied that I'm alone, I move toward the far corner and the crates stacked there. A part of me is nervous at how easy it was to come down here, across the whole school. And how easy it would be for someone to hide right under our noses. They only need to know a little bit about their magic to create spells and charms. Nothing huge though because the school monitors magic activity. But something little, like the magic I created, it's mostly about intention. It can go unnoticed pretty easily. Not to mention, if the Ancients are supplying any of the spells or the magic, it would be nearly untraceable since it's not a signature the school has seen before.
Great, I just proved to myself that it can literally be anyone in this school. I'm not sure how that makes me feel. However, as I move the crates aside and the familiar rug greets me, I smile. This place, the library, it makes me feel like I'm not useless. Like I can do something. I haven't talked to my family all week, and I try very hard not to think just how much I wish I could. But I understand the precautions needed to keep the communication to a minimum. Still, I'm doing nothing to help find my father, and I'm doing nothing to help this school. All that is about to change.
I move the rug aside, pulling at the door in the next motion. The stale air of the underground greets me, but it doesn't take away from the excitement I'm feeling. I need this. I'm about to step down when a noise reaches my ears. I spin around, searching through the darkness and the plants, when I see a glow behind the row of greenery. My heart leaps into my throat, and my battle magic awakens. But even so, I don't run. Something keeps me rooted to that spot.
When the wolf walks out of the aisle, I realize it's because some crazy part of me knew it was Aiden. I can't tell if it's the feel of him in the air around me, or the look in his eyes. Even in wolf form, he's so purely Aiden.
The wolf walks toward me, stopping just a few feet away as we study each other. I've seen him before, when he came to get me in the woods, but this seems different. It seems more intimate somehow. As if he comes to some conclusion, he steps behind a row of plants, and then he's Aiden again. His eyes find me in the darkness once more, his bare chest a sight to behold. He reaches behind the plants and pulls out a pair of pants before he puts them on. A sweater comes next, but I just stand there, mesmerized as I watch him dress. I have no desire to run and hide. We're about to have a conversation, and I'm going to have to trust him completely. Something I'm really not good at.
When he finally steps out from behind the bushes that so strategically hid most of him from me, he's dressed. And his eyes are once again on me.
"Well, Duchess. You just can't keep yourself away from trouble."
"I am absolutely not getting into trouble," I feel inclined to point out when he's standing just two feet away from me. He glances down at the open hole in the ground, before meeting my eyes once again. "This is not trouble."
"Really? Sneaking out of your room in the middle of the night and then unearthing some walkway into the underground is not trouble?"
"Nope. I'm just minding my Ps and Qs." I shrug, and surprisingly, that earns me a tiny grunt that almost sounds like a chuckle. I resist the urge to smile. Sometimes it's very easy to forget that Aiden and I are not friends.
"You are the only girl I know who's got the idiom collection of an elderly man."
"Why thank you, Aiden Lawson. You really know how to compliment a girl." I cross my arms in front of me, giving him the sweetest look I can manage. He smirks at me, but I still count this as a victory. If I can get under his skin even a fraction of how he gets under mine, it's points on my board. But all this back and forth is only stalling. We both know we have to talk about the entryway behind me.
At that moment, a noise reaches us, and Aiden steps forward, taking my arm and pulling me down beside him. My skin tingles under his hold, and I try not to let that become a visibly physical reaction. He looks over at me, our faces just a few inches apart, and for a moment, we're suspended in time. Just the two of us, breathing in the same air. Then, the sound of footsteps reaches us, and Aiden narrows his eyes, as if telling me to stay put. I nod, and then the pressure on my arm is gone and he's standing up.
"Hey, Pete," Aiden calls out as he disappears from view. "What's up?"
"Nothing much. Just thought I'd get some fresh air."
"Sorry man, but Headmaster said to keep the doors locked," Aiden replies, moving farther away from where I'm crouching down.
"Ugh, these patrols are killing me. I need to be in those woods," Pete replies. I can't see him, but for some reason I think he's the blonde guy Aiden hangs out with. He's not in any of my classes, so I can't be sure, but I believe he's a year ahead of us.
"I get it, trust me I do. I'll see if I can arrange something soon, alright?"
A few more words are exchanged, but they moved farther away, and I can't quite make them out. I think they're inside the school now, but I still don't move. Aiden is doing me a serious solid by keeping my secret. He's going to want answers in return. A part of me wants to climb down into the catacombs and hide away, but he would just come after me. Aiden isn't exactly one to give up.
After what seems like an hour, he finally comes back. I've settled right down on the floor, since my legs have gone to sleep crouching. He gives me an amused look, before he offers me his hand. I look at it like it's a snake that might bite me, but for some reason, I still accept it and let him pull me up to standing position.
"Are you going to take me on an excursion now?" he asks, his lips curling up at the corners. I roll my eyes, but I really have no choice.
"Look, where I'm going, it's a secret. But not because it's something bad," I hurry on to add. "It's something I..." There it goes not letting me finish explaining. I huff, before I continue. "If I show you, you have to promise not to say anything." Not that he will have much chance, but I feel like I need this from him before we can go any farther.
"I don't—"
"Promise," I interrupt, looking into his eyes intently. I'm never sure what he sees when he looks at me, but right now, it feels like we're on the same wavelength. The intensity behind his gaze always makes me a bit unbalanced, but right now, it almost adds fuel to my fire. After a moment he seems to realize just how important this is to me, and he nods.
"Out loud." I don't even think when I say the words, but it's something dad used to always say. It means more if the promise is spoken out loud. As if a verbal contract has been made. The emotion almost chokes me, but I push it down. I think Aiden sees it anyway but doesn't comment. He seems to be able to understand my moods better than I do at times.
"I promise."
Just two words, but they mean the world to me. There i
s no doubt he means them, if the way he's looking at me is any indication. We've taken a few more steps forward. I hope he doesn't take twice as many back.
"We have to cover this up, so no one finds it while we're gone." I point to the plants I usually stack in front of the entrance. "You go first, and I'll follow."
He doesn't question, trusting me, which is surprising all on its own. I wait for him to descend, as I move the plants in their designated spots. Then, I place the rug over the door and pull both over me as I close it. Even though we're in complete darkness, I know my way well enough. Aiden's arms reach for me when I'm close to the bottom, wrapping around my waist. I don't need his help, but I appreciate the gesture. Even so, I don't pull away. I allow him to guide me to the ground before I kneel and grab the flashlights I left here previously.
"Ready?" I ask, as I click on the light. He's standing right in front of me, his eyes doing a quick study of the tunnel. I push the other flashlight at him and move past before I do something stupid and ask if I can have a hug. The desire is sudden and nearly overwhelming, and I squash it down.
I'm becoming mush around him, and that is not allowed.
20
When we reach the spot where the door should be, it's not. I can tell Aiden is skeptical, but this is just part of what makes this library so special. It only reveals itself to me.
I step forward, placing my hand against the dark wall. At first, nothing happens. But then, the dirt ripples under my skin, and the door slowly appears, as if floating up to the top. Aiden inhales sharply, and I grin without turning around. I can't exactly credit this awesome magic to only myself, but the fact that it answers to me is pretty incredible. A part of me is excited to share this with someone. And yes, excited that the someone is Aiden. Even though I'm trying very hard not to let that become a thing.
When we step inside, I let Aiden through, watching his face for a reaction. His eyes scan over every surface, taking it all in at once. I close the door and follow him deeper into the library as the little hallway ends and the space opens up into the large high-ceilinged circular room.
"What is this place?" Aiden asks, his voice full of awe. It gives me a twinge of pride, seeing him amazed at this space just like I was. Like I still am.
"A library like no other. There are volumes upon volumes of ancient texts I've never even heard of. It's how I found the spell that helped my sisters."
He turns at that, his eyes on me. "You've known about this place that long? Why haven't you said anything?"
"Honestly, I'm not sure. I tried to tell the headmaster a few times last year, but I think there's a spell that prevents me to do so. The place opened up to me that first time when I touched it with some of my blood. It's like it's only meant for me. I can't explain it. It's just a feeling I have."
I think he'll try to play it off or tell me how stupid that feeling is since this could be a huge help if it truly holds all these treasures, but he does neither. He turns back to the room and does another scan before he nods.
"I understand," he says before he walks toward the large window. My heart fills with just those two words, and I'm glad he's not looking at me. I'm sure my face will betray everything I'm feeling.
Seeing him here, a place that's so uniquely mine I think it holds a piece of me within it, I can't seem to keep my emotions in check. He continues to walk around, mesmerized by the sheer volume of this place. The wonder in his eyes is the same one I felt when I stepped inside the first time, and he's not hiding it from me. For this one moment, he's letting me see a real emotion in him, and I hold onto that. I have a feeling I'll be cherishing it down the line, long after this is all over.
"How many of these books have you studied?" Aiden's voice reaches out to me, and I realize I've been gawking at him. Shaking myself a little, I head for the table I've been using as my base of operation, a few dozen books piled on its surface.
"Not very many. It's difficult to sneak over here, as you can imagine." As I take a seat, Aiden comes around, taking the one next to me.
"You really haven't told anyone of this place?"
"Last year, when I first stumbled upon it, my best friend Kate was here. I brought her in, and she helped a lot. Also, Liam. He's a Fae. He didn't come back this semester, but he helped me decipher the spell that helped my sisters. Some of the books here are in different languages and from different realms."
"That's fascinating." Aiden turns, staring out the window at the evergreen forest. The light is just right, as always, making it seem like it's late afternoon and not the middle of the night. "And what's out there?"
"I've never been able to discover that," I say, looking out the window myself. "It always looks the same, the forest and the time of the day. There are no doors leading out that way and honestly, a part of me likes the mystery. I'm afraid it would be something disappointing."
I'm not sure what possesses me to add that last part, it's a little too intimate for us, but once again, Aiden doesn't make fun of me. He nods, as if he understands, and we share a look that sears me to my very core. Time seems to stop as we watch each other, and I think something shifts again, putting us into a new category. Too bad I have no idea what that means for us.
Tearing my gaze away, I grab for the first book on the table and pull it toward me. I need to concentrate. This is why I'm here. To check for protection spells, and to see if there's anything here to help us find the traitor.
"What can I do to help?"
"Grab a book and see what you can find," I reply, barely sparing him a glance. I can't let myself get distracted again. "There's no index or an organized system. Sometimes books appear where I didn't leave them, but that's very rare. One day, I think I want to spend time in here just to create some kind of organization to the chaos. But for now, I just read. And take notes."
When I glance up, Aiden is watching me once more. He grabs the first book in front of him and flashes me the tiniest of smiles,
"Read I can do."
I think my whole world shifts with that one look. I don't ever remember seeing him smile, and even though it's not a full one, it's the closest I've gotten, and it makes all the difference. There's a lightness in Aiden I haven't seen before, and I have no idea if it's this place or my sharing it with him, but I hold onto this moment and the memory it's creating.
It's a bit of simple peace in a world gone completely crazy.
The next morning, I can hardly concentrate. I have a million thoughts in my mind and none of them are anything I can share with Jade or any of my other friends. And even though Aiden is in the know about the library, part of what I want to discuss has to do with him. All I want is to talk to my sisters.
"What has gotten into you today? Jade asks, as we head toward the dining room later in the day.
"I just asked her this," Vera comments, coming up to the other side of me. She had to repeat the question too because I was so lost in thought I didn't even realize she was talking to me.
"Sorry." I give both of them a quick smile as we reach the dining room and get in line. "I just have a lot to think about."
"Like what?" Christy jumps in, materializing beside us. I resist the urge to roll my eyes, but her nosiness is not appreciated right now.
"Just missing my family," I decide on a half-truth, but it seems to be enough. The girls all get a faraway look in their eyes, their own homesickness making an appearance. If they can relate to anything, it's missing our families. The lockdown hasn't been easy on anyone. I saw a few students coming out of the headmaster's office just yesterday, wiping tears from their eyes.
"I know what we should do!" Christy exclaims, clapping her hands with excitement effectively breaking the silence. "We should have a slumber party."
Not that she would know this, but her words bring a bigger bout of sadness. I've only ever had a slumber party with my sisters. Even Kate and I never had a designated slumber party. That ping of awareness resonates in my chest, and I blink away unwanted tears. I'm not about
to become a blabbering crying mess in the middle of the dining hall.
When I'm busy, it's so easy to forget how far away I am from family. But in times like these, I feel it in my very being.
"We can have it in Jade and Maddie's room. We can get a bunch of snacks and talk and braid hair..."
Christy's enthusiasm may be little over the top for my grumpy heart at times, but it can also be contagious. Even though the idea is appealing, it would put a damper on my plans. There is no way I'd be able to sneak away to the library. And as I keep reminding myself, that's my priority at the moment. But it's not like I can tell them that part.
"Yes! Let's do it, Maddie!" Jade chimes in, and now I'm between a rock and a hard place. I turn to the last girl in our group, hoping Vera's antisocial nature will save me from this impromptu party but no dice.
"Let’s," is all she says, shrugging, as she reaches for an apple. This counts as her stamp of approval, and now I'm really stuck.
"Yes, yes!" Christy squeaks, earning a few looks thrown her way, but she doesn't care. "I will absolutely organize everything and get permission, and this will be great!"
"What will?" Noel asks, coming up to the group and reaching past me to grab a carton of orange juice. He flashes me a warm smile, stopping beside me.
"Is that all you're getting?" I ask, nodding toward his juice.
"I already grabbed food." He motions toward the table, and a few of his friends sitting beside a tray full of food. "I'm a growing boy. There is no way I'd be able to function on this little juice box."
I chuckle, which earns me another smile, before we all head toward the said table. Noel and I have really reached a new level in our friendship after our talk. There's a comfortable camaraderie between us that's almost thrilling.
When I went home in the summer to help my sisters, my whole town had a different kind of a dynamic. Shifters and witches were working together like they've been doing it all their lives. And more so, my sisters had guys in the house. For dinner. And movie night. Normal stuff.