Chapter 38 A ghost or the wind?
Ira’s POV
Books. That's the first thing I'm greeted with. Rows and rows of them.
My neck stretches, my head tilting upward as I try to take in everything around me.
The walls are filled with shelves stacked with old leather-bound texts, some scrolls… there are maps also.
It’s a library... the biggest I've ever seen, the only one I've ever entered. My shoulders sag in disappointment. I'd expected this to be like an armory or something interesting.
Not a bunch of books. So I guess stealing the key was useless after all.
But the wind clearly doesn't think the same as a gust of air rushes along the shelves, blowing dust off the shelves.
I hold in a sneeze as the air immediately gets too thick to breathe properly.
As though sensing my plight, soft breeze blows over my face, clearing air a bit.
Towards the end of the library the wind settles on an old looking shelf. Dust rises in circles making the presence of the wind more prominent.
I slide behind the shelf, spotting another one but then the wind moves behind it too.
“Okay,” I say quietly. “Lead the way.” I spare a glance behind me, hoping I don't get caught. It's not like my ally can get punished so I'll be taking the full punishment for an idea that wasn't mine.
A tragedy, that's what that would be.
I walk further, ignoring the open pages on some shelves that flutter. Despite the blinding dust in the air, none of it comes near me.
I stop in my tracks, my eyes zeroing in on the last section. On the small shelf is a big bold label written in faded ink.
‘THE HISTORY OF VAHL’
“The history of Vahl? I'm pretty sure I know enough about the history of Vahl.” I grumble to myself, flinching when the wind rushes through my hair, ruffling it.
Suddenly I understand why it does that. It's it's way of expressing it's annoyance. I smile, thinking which ever ghost is doing this must be a nice one.
I mean, they could just have slammed me against the wall till all my brain cells fell out like mashed potatoes. But they didn't.
That means they are good… right?
I run my fingers across the old worn-out spines until one catches my attention. Slowly I pull it out, but the wind blows harder… making a deep whistle that sounds like a disapproving groan.
“Not this one, got it.” I place the book back with a sigh, beginning to feel more foolish than before I followed the wind here.
I reach for another book but it blows harshly against me, making that same disapproving sound.
Frustrated, I throw the book back into the shelf.
“That’s it! It's either you show me what you want to or I'm out of here.” I seeth.
I try another book but the wind shoves again, harder.
My irritation spills over, hot. “If you know which stupid book you want, then just drop it or something!”
The room goes still. Like completely still. As in ‘not a sound can be heard aside my breathing’.
I swallow, suddenly feeling nervous. “Uhh… it's fine if you can't do that. Ghost? Whatever you are… why don't we just quit now. I mean, you are not planning on abandoning me here right? You brought me here, remember?”
Still no sound.
“Shit,” I curse under my breath. How am I going to sneak back out on my own?
The air around me suddenly turns cold… icy and barely a second later, a single book shakes violently at the bottom of the shelf.
I jump as it falls to the floor with a loud thud.
My eyes stretch wide as I cover my mouth that refuses to close.
What do I need a book for when I already have something this powerful?
“Are you… are you like a ghost or something? D…do you have a name?”
The book skids across the floor, dragging itself until it stops at my feet.
“Okay,” I mumble to myself, my fingers trembling as I pick it up.
‘A True Sempyr.’
“A what?”
My brows furrow as I read it again, dusting off the dirt on it.
I flip it open, scanning the first page. The words don’t make sense at all. Symbols twist like living things. But maybe, just maybe, this is something about spirits… About whatever keeps saving me.
Is it insane to hope? Possibly this is the gateway to my eventual escape from here.
I hastily tuck the book under my gown anyway. “Maybe you’ll help me escape,” I whisper. “Or summon some monster to do it for me.”
The wind circles me, the previous chill giving way to warmth. I smile, taking that as an approval.
Then I realize something…
“I… didn’t close my room door.” my eyes grow wide in panic. “Crap.”
But immediately I get to the door, I hear voices echo faintly in the hallway.
Two guards… They don't sound too close. But it's still dangerous.
“Dammit!” I whisper, knowing I must risk it. Taking a deep breath and abandoning the library key, I race out of the library, the book bouncing painfully against my ribs under the gown.
Nearing the end close to my room, I press against the wall and peek around the corner, trying to scan as far as possible.
There seems to be no one so I run. My heart pounds so hard it nearly falls out my chest.
I barely make it three steps before a hand firmly grabs me from behind.
A loud gasp escapes me as I immediately struggle but the person clamps their hand hard on my mouth.
That scent…
As though barely using any strength, I'm dragged into a familiar room.
I stop fighting once I realize who it is.
The door slams softly behind me right before I'm released.
“Not a sound,” Ruel whispers, his voice laced with urgency. “Do you understand?”
My breath stutters and I nod quickly, his eyes burning into my soul.
In two long strides he reaches his bed and lifts.
“What’s happening?” I whisper.
“Quiet,” he snaps, then softens just enough to not terrify me. “No noise, I mean it.”
I step back once he pulls up a secret door leading to what looks like a small underground.
“I’m not going down there,” I start, already having a bad feeling.
“You are,” he says. “Now.”
He grabs my arm strongly and lowers me into the opening. My feet land on dry dirt. The tunnel smells old, like a place long forgotten.
I cover my nose from the dust as the bed is dropped on me.
My body tense up as my ears pick up an unsettling vibration. Someone just walked in. I know cause I can feel them… even from down here.
“With how you escaped the hall,” a grainy voice says. “one would think you were trying to hide something.” she chuckles but her voice, her aura… it fills me with immeasurable fury.
As though in some way, I've met her before.