The Library (The Librarian of Alexandria Book 1) by Casey White

Author:Casey White [White, Casey]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Inkfort Press LLC
Published: 2020-08-23T22:00:00+00:00

* * * * *

Step after step, he hurried down the tiled paths. Every intersection he came to, he glanced down - and each time, he was greeted with only darkened rooms and deserted studies.

The candles were burning low, he realized. Alexandria, trying to tell their wandering guests to come home for the night? They brightened at his approach, casting the next few steps into sharper relief, but faded out just as quickly once he passed.

His steps hastened. Eyes pricked, he broke into a jog.

They had to be somewhere. “Alex?” he whispered, his voice pitched low. “I could...use a hand here. Would you mind?”

Another few paces fell away before him, his every sense on high alert. The gentle scraping of stonework moving sent shivers down his spine.

Ahead. One of the walls - it was sinking before his very eyes, opening to expose another passage behind. Owl lunged for it with a quiet, thankful noise.

The wing waiting on the other side was as lovely as ever, with towering ceilings dotted with crystalline glasswork and grand chandeliers. Row after row of narrow shelves rose to fill the expanse, their dark wood standing bold against the dim, soft light.

Owl stepped in - and again, froze in his tracks.

A shape ran down one of the aisles, swathed in dark fabric - Leon. Owl saw his frame jerk as his friend caught sight of him. Leon sprinted over before Owl could say a word.

“O-Owl,” Leon panted. “Look. I...I did my best. They-”

“Did they cast?” Owl interrupted.

Leon shook his head, his hair flying every which way. “N-No. No.” A tiny, proud grin blossomed on his face. “I handled that. No problem.”

“Awesome,” Owl said, squeezing Leon’s shoulder. “That’s great. I can’t tell you how much I-”

“But they’re a mess,” Leon said, crows’ feet appearing at the corners of his eyes. “I’m- I can’t do anything, not when I’m...me. But they’re going to-”

Laughter boomed across the Library. Leon stopped - and together, both him and Owl looked up. Somewhere in the wing, Alan and Dylan were having a great time.

“I’ll get it,” Owl said, stepping away. “All good. Thanks, Leon.”

“They’re- They’re in a mood,” Leon said, stumbling after him. “And they’re still- They haven’t given up. Be careful, Owl.”

“I will,” Owl said, but a hint of unease washed over him. Under the hem of his hood, Leon looked...worried.

Whatever it was, he’d handle it. Turning away, he hurried into the shelves.

If there was a silver lining for the whole situation, it was that the two scholars were easy enough to follow. Their chatter and jeers drifted from row to row, echoing behind the pair. Owl sped closer and closer, tracking them relentlessly. And the closer he got, the more it became apparent what Leon had meant.

He’d thought their words were unintelligible because of the distance. But as he wore down the gap between them, the truth became clear in their slurred words and raucous laughter.

The final rack fell away - and Owl saw them at last. Alan and Dylan stumbled up one of the aisles, meandering this way and that.

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