But eventually, my eyes got heavy, and despite my itching skin, sleep finally found me, minus any dreams.
Sixteen
“I’m really enjoying this leisurely hike and all, but where exactly are we going? We’ve been walking for so long,” I whined, heaving, stepping over another gigantic moss-covered rock.
Lox stopped suddenly, which in turn made me bump into her and stumble on my throbbing feet. The new boots, though kind of stylish, weren’t comfortable, and though my shoulder felt ten times better today, it still pulsated briefly on impact. Sleeping on the ground the night before probably hadn’t been the best thing for my sore muscles either, but there was nothing else to be done for it.
This morning, I’d let Lox go check out the dead Nephilim while I packed up our supplies and waited patiently, having no desire to set eyes on that thing again. When she came back with the confirmation it was definitely dead, we headed off for Merlin’s, back on schedule. There was no way to contact Peter to tell him why we hadn’t shown up the night before, but Lox assumed he probably wouldn’t notice anyway.
She pointed up at the sky as we stood atop a fallen log, the horrors of the Nephilim long gone and a new task at hand. “You see that?”
I followed her gaze through the trees to what seemed like a large building. How had I not seen that before? It felt like we’d been walking forever and a day, but not once had I noticed the tall tower looming in the distance.
“What is it?” I asked.
Lox’s jaw clenched slightly, lips pressed taut as she started to walk again. “Merlin’s place. And he doesn’t particularly like visitors.”
When I was out of breath and sweaty, naturally, we finally made it to Merlin’s tower. It stretched almost as high as the Nevertree we’d left behind and seemed, if the wind blew a certain way, it might collapse into an enormous pile of rubble. But it was also extravagant in its architecture, standing mightily in the midst of the forest surrounding it.
“Whoa,” I commented, still panting while bent over to try and force oxygen to my head.
Lox, who wasn’t even fazed by our journey, gave me an eye roll before trudging away, leaving me behind. Stumbling, I was forced to follow her.
“Merlin is… interesting. Don’t do anything stupid. He’s used to me, but he doesn’t know you. So he might be a bit… apprehensive. He’s a great guy, though… as long as you don’t do anything stupid.”
“You said that already,” I commented, hands on my hips, still taking in the castle-like structure as we approached, walking on a pebbled pathway toward the heavy brown door at its base.
She looked me over, face serious. “And I meant it.”
I lifted my hands in mock surrender, suddenly hesitant about going inside this guys’ home. Was I in danger? Would Lox lead me into a trap? It was apparent she didn’t like me. What if she decided she was going to fake my death just to get rid of me? Or that she wanted this wizard to possibly turn me into a dodo she could eat for dinner the next night?
But despite these fears, I found myself doubting such a theory as we made it to the entrance. I’d seen the flash of respect in her eyes, which probably was misguided, but I’d take it. I believed she had Neverland and the greater good in her mind, balancing out her little annoyances. I just didn’t know if what I was walking into was the right way to help us.
Lox rapped on the door with her knuckles, the sound seeming to reverberate in my ears, echoing from somewhere inside the tower. A loud clatter followed, like shattering glass, and then a string of curse words ensued in a man’s gravelly voice.
More grumbles grew nearer, like someone was coming down the stairs toward us, and then before I really expected it, the large gateway opened with a groan.
A man, seemingly in his late fifties, stood before us. He wore a long, gray robe, which followed behind him like a train. His wrinkled arms were engulfed in billowing sleeves, and there was no hair atop his head. When he spoke, I noticed his teeth were a little separated near the middle.
“Who in God’s name is coming to my door at this—” He stopped, seeing Lox and me, and instead of welcoming us like I expected, he narrowed his eyes. “What do you want?”
I felt myself taking a tentative step backward. There was something about this man that seemed really powerful, which I guess made sense with the whole wizard thing and all. But I still didn’t like it.
“Merlin, Peter sent me. He said he wanted me to look in the Anthology again,” Lox explained, her voice a bit annoyed, while she pointed toward me over her shoulder.
The man gave her a sour face, ignoring my presence. “That blasted boy. Will he ever give up his searching rubbish?” He threw up his winged arm of fabric and swung around, leading us in with another grumble. I suspected he did that frequently, like a grumpy old man.
I guessed he was one.
Lox glanced at me with a nod before following him into the darkness. “You’re the one who wanted to be in charge of it, Merlin. It’s a big responsibility.”
“It was a great endeavor, until he began to send you almost four times a week.”
“It’s my job. And trust me; if I didn’t have to, I wouldn’t come. Besides, you say that every time I’m here.”
“Because it’s the truth. And for your information, you just ruined some very good tea.”
I stepped into the corridor they’d entered, taking in everything around me. It was dark, lit only by dim torches that reflected off the stone staircase leading upward, where they were now climbing. My eyes had to adjust from the bright light outside to the shadowy nature of the indoors, and after I could see better, I noticed the nonexistent decoration of the natural rock walls and flooring. It was also cold, instantly reminding me of a dungeon. Who would ever want to live somewhere like this?
Their bickering continued, leaving me behind, so I had to race with fatigued legs to catch up.
“You never come with a guest,” he pointed out, not looking back as his long robe slid up the concrete steps behind him.
Lox didn’t glance back either. “Don’t mind her. She’s just another of Peter’s projects.”
Merlin snorted, the reaction I’d almost let out myself. I had no idea why I was really on this island, and I especially didn’t know why Peter was investing all this time in me. But I stayed quiet, thinking Lox probably knew what she was talking about.
It was a lot of stairs and a lot more breaking sweat on my part, but we made it to the top, where Merlin must’ve dropped his things before. In fact, entering the new doorway on the next and only other level of the building, I saw what seemed like a tea set completely obliterated into countless pieces on the floor. Merlin just mumbled to himself angrily as we passed it.
When I looked up, though, I saw something I hadn’t expected. Books. Everywhere. Shelves going what seemed at least half a mile high, lining every available wall space of the cylindrical tower. Books stacked on tables, books placed on couches, books strewn across the floor. Most all their covers were timeworn, reminding me of the classics my father kept in his office. A collection.
We were in some sort of library.
As I took this all in, Merlin walked around islands of books, not bothering to pick up any of them.
“Why does he need it this time?” he asked Lox, stepping behind a large desk as tall as his ribcage and sorting through the books there. “Another meaningless search for his parents?”
Lox, who had dropped her bag near the door, stiffened at his comment. Instantly, my curiosity was piqued, and I opened my mouth to ask about it. But she didn’t let me say anything.
“No, no. Not this time,” she said, rushed. “It’s just to check up on things.” Her eyes flicked to mine, daring me to say something I wasn’t supposed to.
Merlin let out a haughty laugh, slamming closed a large book about the size of half his torso and sending dust dancing in the dimly lit air. “Oh, yes, he must always be informed.”
Lox gave him a stern look as she carefully stepped ove
r to his desk. “He’s the ruler of Neverland. Of course he has to check up on things.”
“Seems like a bloody waste of time to me. Nothing ever changes anyway. And he sends a girl of all people to do his dirty work. Crummy ruler if you ask me.”
“For the hundredth time, my name’s Lox,” she mumbled. “And it’s the twenty-first century. Women are just as capable as men.”
Merlin waved her off. “Whatever. Carry on with your bogus hunting. You know where to look.” He motioned behind him, reading over some scrolls now.
There was so much going on that I didn’t really know where to look or turn. Where was the computer? Where did we even start?
Lox nodded, giving a short, “Thanks,” before walking to his right where another smaller door was. She disappeared into it, not even glancing back at me, leaving me alone with the grumpy old man to find whatever Peter thought I needed to read in order to research the land.
Thankfully, I didn’t have to start awkward small talk. Merlin’s voice startled me before I tried to touch a book nearby, instantly retracting my hand.
“What story’d she snag you from, eh?” He flipped through more books, setting them into another pile when he was satisfied. “You look like you’ve never heard of the Anthology before.” He snorted in laughter.
Not knowing what to do and seeing no place to sit or lean against either, I stood uncomfortably with my hands clasped in front of me. “I’m not from… any story,” I told him.
Instantly, he looked up, dark, beady eyes finally registering me for the first time since we’d arrived in this strange place. “You’re story-less? How’s that? Story-less characters don’t come here.” He motioned around him, his ringed hand catching some of the light in its jewels.
I didn’t understand what exactly he was asking, but I kept going with what I thought might make a good answer. “I-I honestly don’t know. Peter brought me.”
Merlin, obviously curious now, shut another thick book he’d opened, studying me as he began to approach, robe sweeping out behind him.
“Peter brought you.” He nodded, processing this. “So you’re from the Mainland, am I correct?” he questioned. This suddenly felt a lot more like an interrogation rather than light conversation.
I swallowed. “I guess.”
His eyes narrowed as he picked a book off the top of a stack, still moving toward me. He didn’t even look at it before closing it again and placing it on another stack. “Then you mustn’t know of this place and the Anthology.”
“N-no, not at all.” I cleared my throat, trying to cover the fear growing within me. Merlin was intimidating to say the least, and I didn’t like the fact that we were alone together. Going against Lox’s wishes, I added, “He wanted me to learn more about how Neverland was formed. For… the war.” And about my necklace being possessed. I continued in my head.
Something about this situation made me not want to trust anyone with the knowledge of my locket. Even if they were an all-knowing wizard. I couldn’t bring myself to share despite it being one of the main reasons for coming here.
Moving so now he was standing in front of me, very close to another lopsided mountain of novels, he ran his hand over a dusty lampshade, observing the grimy remains now on his fingers.
“I could give you a tour if you’d like. I am the Story Keeper, after all.” His lip curled in disgust at the mess, but he didn’t move to wipe it away.
Was this the something stupid Lox warned me about? Was this man some sort of crazy-psycho monster like the ones I’d experienced since I’d been here? Or maybe one of the evil people I needed to stay away from? From what I could tell, he just seemed like an aging grouch lording over a ton of books. Did I want to see what he was offering?
Yes, of course I did.
I nodded vigorously.
Smiling, Merlin motioned with his large wingspan toward the walls around us. “Then welcome to the Neverland Anthology Collection, where every story ever written shows up as a record of creation.” He pointed to yet another door that I could’ve sworn hadn’t been there seconds ago. “This way,” he told me before maneuvering through the heaps of books at our feet.
Hesitant, I gave one last glance back toward where Lox had disappeared, but decided I needed some answers. And this man was supposedly able to supply them.
Quietly, I started to navigate after the man as best I could, my fingers twitching with anxiousness.
I was surprised the movement of his cloak’s train wasn’t jarring any books as he walked through them and even more so when his knee rapped against one of the mounds and they didn’t tumble over, let alone stir. But when I did the same thing a few piles past the first, the top book went scrambling to the floor, the sound echoing all around us in the tall room as it smacked into the ground.
Merlin snorted. “Watch it, Mainlander. Those are real-life stories you’re tampering with.”
Swallowing, I stepped around the same stack and moved quicker to follow him.
“Where’re we going?” I asked quietly, not knowing if I’d upset him, but too curious not to ask.
His hand waved toward the door we were about to enter. “The most ancient book of the Anthology itself. It’s been here longer than anyone can remember, even that boy Peter.” Rather effortlessly, Merlin opened the door leading into another dimly lit room. When he entered, I followed and then stopped to allow my eyes to adjust once again.
It was an almost completely empty room except for a huge, thick, and pedestaled book placed in the center. Shining down through a hole in the wooded ceiling was a beam of light, brightening the open pages. Instantly, it reminded me of the old Bible Mom used to keep in the main foyer of our home in England, but then I thought that probably wasn’t the correct connection.
Merlin invited me to come closer to where it was placed on a tall, wooden podium. Slowly, I stepped toward it to get a better look. It was huge, smelling of mildew, and dustier than any of the other books I’d seen.
“Wow,” I breathed out, letting my eyes pour over its contents. It wasn’t in English, but it was still fascinating. “What does it say?”
Clearing his throat, Merlin began. “The Anthology is made up of all texts, and stories, ever written in the history of the Mainland. As you probably know, characters and scenarios from those creations appear in Neverland once the work is finished. They come in all different Mainland languages and sometimes in pictures created in sequence in order to tell a tale. For instance, the Labors of Hercules or the Headless Horseman Pursuing Ichabod Crane, two of the rather well-known fables, as seen here,” he said before the pages of the book, hundreds at a time it seemed, began to flip incredibly fast and then suddenly stopped, landing on the specific page Merlin was talking about, dotted with small works of art I wasn’t familiar with. “The characters from these famous works back where you dwell end up in Neverland, too, like the Headless Horseman himself and the Chimera that Hercules defeated so long ago.”
Dust had flown up all around us, but I was trying not to take notice.
“How’re you doing that?” I asked, glancing up at him with my mouth gaping like a dumb fish.
“I’m the Story Keeper. It’s my job, miss,” he said nonchalantly before beginning to flip through more pages. I couldn’t help but continue to admire it.
He continued. “So because the stories are made by all the Mainlanders like you, carelessly, every single day, they get categorized inside other novels already made here. It’s really a beautiful process. That’s my job, you see, to check all the books and make sure the stories are organized into them perfectly.”
So much new information to process, so little time to ask questions. I didn’t want Lox to think I’d gone with him after she told me not to, and who knew when she’d be finished looking for what she needed? But this was the most information I’d learned about Neverland since I’d arrived, and I was determined to find out more.
“Peter put you up to this? Were you written into a story as the Story Keepe
r or something? Is that how it works?” I asked.
Merlin let out a sigh then, making me instantly think I’d upset him. He was glaring out past my shoulder, though, not at me. “Sometimes it works like that, yes. But I didn’t take this job willingly, girl.”
My eyebrows dipped in confusion. “But Lox said—”
“She only told you what everyone thinks,” he growled low, making my heart leap into my throat. Maybe this was a mistake. Maybe I was in danger with this Merlin guy.
“Then… what story did you come from that made him want to force you to be the Story Keeper?”
Merlin let out a little laugh, perhaps surprised by my question, but not showing it. He ran his crooked fingers over the still-open pages of the original Anthology again. “I would’ve thought it’d be a bit obvious by now.”
He was right. I had an idea, thanks to Lox. But I didn’t think I believed it. Merlin the wizard? I’d never expected a character like that to appear as this man did. He didn’t resemble anything more than an old coot with a bad attitude. I didn’t know too much about his character, but I thought I remembered learning about him in school some time ago. It made sense now, seeing that he’d glided over the floor like it was nothing and was able to flip through the Anthology so quickly.
I’d been right; he was powerful.
“If you’re a wizard, why haven’t you just left this place? I mean, you have… magic,” I said quietly, not believing I’d actually uttered the words out loud. Had Neverland made me go completely crazy? Oh God, I was starting to sound like one of them, just like the stories from my dreams.
Merlin let out a loud, “Mmm,” with a stretch of his arms, shaking his head in sad laughter. “It’s a long story.”
Before I could question him on everything else, there was an annoyed cough behind me, and I turned to see Lox practically tapping her foot impatiently.
“What’re you doing?” she asked, mock curiosity in her tone.
Merlin seemed amused. “I was just showing your little Mainlander around the Anthology library.”
Mere Phantasy Page 17