Chapter 73 CHAPTER 73
I wasn't completely healed when I jumped on Styx’s back and put her to work on taking me back to the hostel.
My injuries hurt with every movement but my heart pounded so hard it overwhelmed everything.
I thought he was going to ignore this thing; I thought he was going to put rules in place to keep a boulder between us. He's the Principal, the guy that everyone trembled at the sight of.
He was supposed to be that immovable structure Akua is so sure he is so I could daydream forever while moving on with my life.
But no, he went and opened this other door and I have no idea if I even want to close it.
But then Zade…
The thought of him sent electric shivers down my spine.
I want him, I want him so bad I ached in strange places.
His body oozed perfection, the tattoos that decorated his skin, and most of all, the way he looked at me.
I think that was one of the things that shocked me to stupor.
How could he look at me with that much admiration? What's happening?
How did I feel so intensely towards him and still feel shivers at the memory of the Principal's words?
The thought of leaving this place was now painful yet it was the only way to escape the dilemma I felt myself walking into.
I'd always dealt with life's issues on my own but for once, I wished I could speak to somebody about this.
Why was my body confused? Why did it want more than one man?
Why did my chest ache at the thought of Florian's absence?
I chugged that up to being concerned for his well-being and kept my body in motion.
Maybe I'm not busy enough, hence why two different men are ruining my mind.
I thought about going to join classes but I looked at my arm.
“Nope. Not worsening this,” I told myself. It wasn't as bad as it was earlier but I was wearing a makeshift cast and instructed to rest, especially after all the blood he pulled from my body.
The sleep behind my lids earlier had dissipated too so that was out of the mix and I picked up my books to read.
That should do the trick.
But then a piece of paper slipped out and I bent to pick it, wincing from the pain.
“Oh.”
It was that same paper, the one that told me the only thing there was to know about myself.
Zhar.
Cool surname by the way, if all of this is true anyway.
I didn't think it was, considering all I've been through in this place, it felt like a trap or some sort of trick but my curiosity won over.
I changed my clothes and put my hair in a messy bun and headed towards the library.
It was mid-afternoon so I didn't expect anyone to be walking around the path, perfect for this because people will soon begin to put two and two together with how many trips I make to the library.
Nobody here was that hungry for knowledge.
When I walked into the library, I knew exactly where to go to search for answers.
That's how much time I've spent in the library these past weeks.
Zade never got tired of telling me about how he arranged them, and then rearranged them again when he was bored.
But I'd gotten his entire process so when I saw the planting and gardening book next to the magic aisle, I knew he'd colour-coded everything instead of placing books based on their content.
Well, more work for me then.
I finally got everything before I realised this place has been unusually quiet.
“Zade?” I called before I realised that wasn't right. “Master Zade?”
Hm.
Unusual for him to be outside here but I guess he's got a life out of here.
But I had the books on family lineage and I found my way to our special corner and I saw new snacks loaded in between the couches and I grinned.
I hadn't eaten back at the Principal's house because I ran out like a thief while he was still in the shower.
Styx was probably going to get an earful from him later but the steed always understands me more than dragon kin for some reason.
The mess in my head gradually faded to the back of my mind as I read about powerful families in the Kingdom of Drakkonia and how they all rose to power.
It didn't say anything about their decline and I knew the book was old.
Finally, I got to the Zhar lineage and the page was torn off.
“Come on!” I groaned, going between the table of contents and the last name on the list.
Silly of me to have actually gone through everything instead of just heading to the last page.
I would have avoided wasting my time.
But the question persisted, who would tear out the pages about my supposed family and why?
“Ugh,” I groaned, shutting the third book I'd taken out.
It was all the same.
There'll be a mention of it at the beginning but the pages were torn out.
“What's got you so worried?” Zade's voice shocked me out of my stupor.
“Eek!” I screeched, “Don't do that,” I groaned.
He crawled from behind the chair and joined me.
“My apologies my Sunshine. What's got your mood so messy?”
“Someone has been tearing out every last page on all the books about powerful families of the kingdom. Specifically, this family called the Zhars. Is that normal? People can just tear out your books?”
I was ranting at this point, I had been so close to understanding something in this alternate universe I fell into and yet, blocks were in my way.
“It was directed by the King. Despite my protests, there's nothing I could do to stop it. Those bastards marched in here and threatened to light the library on fire if I didn't show them every copy of the books. I did. They still ransacked the place by themselves and found all the copies I'd hidden.”
“But why! What did they do to deserve to be blotted out of history?”
“I don't think I should tell you,” he sighed, “it's that bad. The punishment for talking about the Zhar family is too much of a hassle. Was there a reason you were asking?”
“No,” I shook my head, realising that I was best off not mentioning my connection to this family.
Whatever is in that vial the quack doctor gave me is supposed to heal me to the point where my family and lineage will be detected.
I'm definitely not letting it enter my system either.
And although I'd given up many times, I definitely should start looking for a way out of here.
The library wasn't going to give me any answers, so I will just have to find other options.
The Scribes definitely know more than anyone else in this place.
But how do I get any of them to tell me how to leave Drakkonia?