CHAPTER 249: STEALTH II

Three hours out, three books in, and I felt like I was floating in a sea of knowledge, never mind that most of them seemed unpractical; impossible realities spun from depraved minds.

Because if it were true, then this world as I knew it was hanging on a very delicate thread.

Try explaining to me how only a prophecy was stopping one supernatural species from attacking the other. It just didn’t make sense. And if it did, then it was a crazy-ass prophecy.

About a certain one that bore the mark of divinity, which would bring both terror and peace... it sounded like a fairy-tale, but it was pleasing to read, pleasing and time-consuming.

I was only able to cover three books because I had activated El’s speed reading, only that I had blown through the protein and chocolate bars I had come with. And now I was running on empty.

El believed I should head out before I fainted in the library and became entrapped by the Queen. I thought so too, but only after I have finished this fourth book, which I was reading at a slower pace, at a normal pace.

"Do you think it would be noticed if we take some books home?" I asked aloud.

’Yes, I think so. But you can try.’

"You, not we?"

’I am not for stealing. I don’t like it.’

I scoffed. Spoilsport.

That term again, I noted, eyes peering into the texts more intently. Ancients.

According to the books, they were the most powerful beings to have walked the earth, because they are part angels. They were extinct too. Although nothing was said about how that happened except they had been at loggerheads with vampires, demon spawns.

"Do you think all this is true?" I finally asked El, unable to keep up with the book. I dropped it on the table, making a mental note to return all the books to the shelf before leaving.

"I think so," El replied softly, as if she was dreading something, or remembering something. Whichever it was, I had a feeling she wouldn’t be letting me in on the treasure, at least not yet.

Feeling bored all of a sudden, but not in the mood to check out any more fantastical books, I got to my feet and decided to look around the library... maybe scout for more books that I could read the next time I came here, or maybe take home.

’You should perhaps drop that last thought,’ El warned.

I didn’t grace El with a response.

My eyes first connected to the markings on the wall I had read the first time I came here. It was all about the prophecy and some warnings about making deals with those cursed by the gods, whatever that meant. It wasn’t any of my business.

I left the markings and checked out more books. I was in the fifth aisle when I heard the sound—croaky, heavy, thick, frightening, all at the same time.

"What is that?" I whispered, forgetting that El was in my head, and not a physical somebody I could talk with.

’I think we should leave,’ El said.

That didn’t answer my question, but I understood her. We needed to leave. Yet, my feet wouldn’t turn to the exit. It rather walked toward the direction the sound was coming from.

Wasn’t this what the witch meant when she said I was too curious? But I was too curious to care, not now that my whole focus was on seeing what was making that sound.

Was it trapped? Or was here just an abode? Was it what made this library a forbidden one? What was ’it’.

"Maya, turn back." El’s voice decibel has increased, but no way was I moving away.

"It’s not time for you to meet them. Things might go south..." but I had stopped listening after her first paragraph.

"You know what is making that sound? Or rather, them?" to say I was surprised was an understatement. No wonder she gave no response to my first question.

Silence greeted me. Of course. But I wasn’t backing down or away.

I hurried now, down a narrow hallway, then a sharp bend to the right, then another to the left, trying in vain to calm my speeding heart as the growling sounds got louder. This close, it sounded like a booming noise. Familiar to an extent.

I stopped when the answer hit me squarely on the face.

The beasts.

El’s tired sigh confirmed my answer to be the right one.

They wouldn’t hurt me.

A relieved chuckle escaped my lips. They wouldn’t hurt me. A fact based solely on intuition. With that realization, came a spring to my steps as I ran down the bend which somehow I knew was the last one.

How did it connect to the large square where the contest had held? I wondered as I ran. It meant there were more tunnels leading to this library, or was it just one?

I stopped when I came to stand before a cell-like compartment. Not a compartment since I couldn’t see the end, only the metal rods barring me from moving forward, barring the beast from leaving the space. The beast looking at me. The beast that Racheal had called out. Still looking as large as ever.

Why was it making those sounds? Had it been calling for me?

"You shouldn’t be here."

Oh, it wasn’t calling for me. I shrugged, stepping back unconsciously, when another beast stepped into view. It was the one that I had encountered near the house, standing at an even taller height than the former. Both scary.

"What are you doing here? Leave now," a whisper, yet loud.

Why was it whispering? Why were they whispering?

"The Queen is in one of the tunnels with the Lycan king. You should leave now. It is not safe for you, no matter how powerful or indispensable you think you are. You are still a premature. Don’t snuff your destiny out. Leave!"

A beast was coming into shape next to them, and I strained to catch its features, for it seemed to be shorter than the two, yet had a tail too, with shimmering lights. Maybe a female?

It stopped, however, as if knowing my thoughts—that I was waiting for it.

I released a resigned sigh. "I am going. But first... these books in the library... are most of the information in them correct?"

A nod. "Especially the ones on the wall."

I balked. You have to be kidding me. There was no way.

"See? You’re being doubtful when you are hit with only a dosage of the truth. Are you sure you are actually ready for the truth you think you are desperate for?" El asked.

I could feel her sneering, snickering. She must think me unserious. Yes, I existed in a world where supernatural beings existed but surely there must be a limit to these things.

"But..."

"Go." The taller beast commanded. "She senses an intruder. You should cloak yourself. You and your other."

Great. They knew about El too.

El, to her credit, cloaked us. I could feel the covering, even as I could feel the tiredness seep into my bones. Yes, I had to leave.

"When will I see you again?" I asked.

"Sooner than you think. Maybe then we will trade our names, Maya the Fifth."

Maya the Fifth? I shook my head and started moving away. No need bothering my head over something I wouldn’t be getting an answer to anytime soon.

El didn’t seem to be giving one either.

"See you guys soon," I muttered over my shoulder, feeling as bold as a lion suddenly.

’That’s the effect of being in their presence for a while,’ El said.

’So you have been in their presence before now?’

A hesitant pause. ’I think so,’ she replied.

That meant no more discussion on the topic, or maybe she just didn’t remember? I had taken two bends before I saw the Queen and the Lycan King, Adam’s father, looking to and fro while heading toward the library.

Where had they burst out from? The tunnels I had followed were the only ones I had seen.

’The only ones visible to you,’ El said.

’Visible? Did that mean there were invisible ones?’ Oh god.

I bit my lips and followed them, keeping my distance. In the library, the Queen looked around slowly, searching for the intruder—searching for me.

I cursed mentally when her eyes touched the books on the table.

"Someone was really here. Aliana, your sense of hearing can rival that of a Lycan, you know..." Alpha Brekan spoke, walking toward the books.

However, before he could touch it, the Queen gathered the books with magic and slotted them into the shelf, without moving a muscle.

"You don’t trust me still?"

"No, I don’t, Alpha. Remember you suggested putting that wimp on my throne, and abandoning my daughter some days ago."

The king laughed. "It is necessary, and you know that. You better groom and take her under your wing as soon as possible. There’s only so much your people can take. You have to be in charge."

Queen Aliana said nothing to that. She rather started toward the hallway again.

"Are you done checking for the intruder?"

"There is none. I think I heard wrong. The children must have forgotten to return the books to the shelf after the excursion today."

"If you say so," Alpha Brekan said, following after her.

I let out a deep sigh of relief.