Chapter 9 The Lupen Lore
Vanessa
I dart my eyes from left to right, making sure there is nobody in sight as I quietly slink into the shadows.
This should be the place. I'm sure it's around here somewhere...
The moon is high up in the sky, and almost full which makes it easier for me to quietly slips through corners with it's lights guiding me.
I place my hands on the walls, feeling my way up as I pass, until I come across a pair of large oak doors that look to be centuries old.
I turn one knob and open, silently praying it doesn't make any noise and give me away.
It doesn't. Good.
I open it wide enough to fit my body and slip inside.
The lights are dimly lit but the room is still bright enough to walk around with stumbling into anything.
A library.
Shelves upon shelves of books line up the walls and some are encased in shelves that look to spiral up.
I start to walk, sliding my hand on each part as I go, and I notice how clean the shelves are without any spec of dust. It's as if it's cleaned on a daily basis.
I skim through each one I come across; The Lupen Lore, Werewolf Origins. As well as other supernatural beings such as witches, vampires, and even fairies.
"Vanessa Collins, am I correct?" rings a tenor-pitched voice.
I squeak, and my hands drop immediately. With wide eyes and mouth open in an almost scream, I look left and right, wondering where the voice came from.
A light suddenly comes on a few feet away from me, illuminating a mahogany desk with books and papers neatly arranged on both sides. My eyebrows furrow as I try to make out the figure seated in the tall, black chair with it's back facing me.
One beat.
Two beats.
Then the chair turns around slowly, and I recognize the long-haired man with hazel eyes to be one of the Royal Council members I met on my first day here. What's his name again?Elod? Elat? Eli...as.
Yes, Elias. Screw me and my bad memory. again.
His hands are clasped beneath his chin as he studies me. Sharp hazel eyes framed by black-rimmed glasses bore into mine.
I look down at myself, making sure I am appropriately dressed. I am.
Or is there something on my face?
What am I supposed to do? Should I just turn around and leave or...
I tilt my body to the side at the thought, but then, he blinks once and his face lights up, as if just recognizing that someone's here.
Elias stands and walks around the table, stopping directly in front of me with a beaming smile on his face and one hand outstretched.
"Did I startle you, or make you uncomfortable? My apologies, Vanessa. I get lost in meditation sometimes and it takes a while for me to acknowledge a presence. It's a force of weird habit." He waves his hand around as if it was no real big deal.
He claps his hands once. "Welcome, to the room of knowledge. If you're here to absorb one or two things about our kind and our origin, I can show you the best books to start with."
"Uh..." I trail off, giving him a wary look. Why is he...nice?
When Elias notices my expression, his hazel eyes are kind as he speaks, "I do not dislike, nor do I detest you, Vanessa. Neither do the others." A very big lie, that one, but alright. "But protocol demands scrutiny, discernment, before acceptance.
I may not have lived very long, but long enough to distinguish between a queen and a warrior."
What?
Elias chuckles, his eyes crinkling at the corners at my dubious look. "My words may have no meaning at the moment, but it is what I know."
Now what am I supposed to say to that?
"Come now, Vanessa."
I do as he says and watch him as he scans the aisle until he finds the one he's looking for. He picks it up and hands it over to me.
"Here. Start with this."
I collect it and look the book over. 'The Lupen Lore: A collection of historical facts of the origin.' It's big enough to call it a 'werewolf dictionary', weighty and printed in hard cover.
I flip a couple pages open until I come across a part that catches my attention.
'The Lupen originated from ancient beings who were blessed and found worthy by Selene, the Goddess of Moonlight. This led to the creation of the first werewolves - noble guardians who were to keep the balance between the human and the supernatural worlds.
From them descended many bloodline; among them was the Crescent Mark Bloodline. A half-crescent moon symbol on a prominent part of the body of each generation; this signified the rightful heir to the Royal Throne.' I pause, my eyebrows furrowing as I recall the crescent moon mark I had seen on Xander a couple of times.
So it wasn't just any weird birthmark I had seen, like the burnt dimples I had seen on the both sides of Christine's butt in fifth grade.
I remember calling her attention to it and almost got socked in the face for it. Thank God for my fast reflexes even at that age.
I continue reading. 'But then, shadows run deep in the Lupen lore. A counter-prophecy spoke about a Royal Eclipse, one that shook the foundation of the Lupen history.
The prophecy spoke of a hybrid–"
"I see the book has quite snatched your interest, Vanessa," Elias says beside me. I got so lost in the book, I momentarily forgot he was there.
Well, it surely has.
I shut the book and turn to face him. "Can I borrow this?"
"Yes, of course, but you'll have to return it as soon as you're finished with it."
"Yeah, definitely. Thank you," I say, dropping it into my bag and wanting to leave as soon as possible.
"You're welcome," Elias replies. He leave the Isle and goes to settle back down into his black high chair. "Whenever you have questions or seek clarifications, I'll be right here." His lips turn upward into a genuine smile and I can't help but give him one of my own.
One thing keeps bothering
me though as I creep my way back towards the direction of my room.
The Royal Eclipse...