Ink and Blood

Chapter 3

The library is amazing, it has so many books that I can't even begin to imagine, and they are the original copies from all over the world.
Like C. S. Lewis touched these books and J. R. R. Tolkien, Lewis Carroll, Stephan King and many more. I barely noticed that Ms. Lizzy was talking to me until she stopped walking and I almost ran into her.

"I know it's a lot to take in, but if you are going to work here then you need to focus on the task at hand, do you understand?" Ms. Lizzy said. I nod. "Yes, ma'am. I do." I say promptly. "Then let's meet the man you have been waiting for." She turned and walked out of the library. I look at the books one last time, remembering the library in Beauty and the Beast. I chuckle and follow behind her. The mansion seemed to echo whenever someone walks on the tile floor.

"How old is this place?" I ask Lizzy. "Over two hundred years old. It was built in the early 1800's by a man no one knows. It was abandoned for many years until the original owner Mr. Edward Took turn it into a library." She turns to a corner and stop at the end of the hall. "Here we are. Now we will decide what to do about you." She knocked on the door and entered. The room inside was filled with more books and documents than furniture. Even though there are two windows at the end of the wall, there were lamps and candles lighting up the room. In the center of the wall behind a desk was a round mirror with gold dust reflecting off it.

"Rufus, this is Clara Lodge. She is here for the job offer." Lizzy said. I look away from the shining mirror to see a man before me. Rufus looks around forty with dark hair and a likable face, he had on proper clothes and a smile that lit up the room.
"Ah, very nice to meet you, Clara. I hope you found the library to your satisfaction." His voice gruff. "Yes, sir. It is amazing."
"Wonderful, and please, call me Rufus. So, if Lizzy chose you then you must be a special person, right?" He teased.

"Something like that, I guess." I say. These people are nice and friendly, but there is something odd about them. "Tell me, Clara, have you ever handled a baby?" He asked. The question took me off guard. "Y-yes, I have." I hesitated. He smiled. "Good, because handling these books are like handling precious infants. Understand? Now answer me this, have you ever written a story before." I nod. "Yes. I'm currently writing one right now." I say.
"Interesting. This may sound like an odd question but... do you believe in magic?" This man keeps surprising me. There was an awkward silence.
"Um, I believe those who look for it will find it. Even if it's in small things or unusual places, or things you never thought possible. And in my story that I'm writing, the characters are looking for survival and a way to defeat the one person who destroyed their happiness. They're looking for hope and friendship, they count on each other. The best magic you can find are in books. That is the magic I believe it." I finish.

Rufus and Lizzy are dumb struck. They stare at me for a long time before a smile broke on Rufus's face. "That was the most rewarding answer I have ever heard. Well, that does it. Congrats, Clara, you have just been hired. Welcome." He grinned. I couldn't help the giddy feeling. I have a job. "Thank you so much. I'll start right away. What can I do at the moment?" they smile.
"Well, Rafé is cleaning some shelves down in the archive, you can shelve the other books on the cart in the library." Lizzy said. I nod.

When I'm excused, I hurry to the library and called Lily. She answered on the first ring. "Hello?"
"I got the job!" She squealed. "Yay, I'm happy for you. Now that you will get money, you can buy me all the jewelry I want." I laugh. Typical of Lily to make it all about her, but I'm too happy to roll my eyes. "Yeah, but I have to get back to work now. Bye." I hang up before she starts talking nonstop. I walk to the two carts full of books. I start to shelve them when I noticed a book I was holding was a Jane Austin original Pride and Prejudice.

I'm going to cry. It was all so amazing. I wonder if in a few years, my story with be in here with the rest of these famous books. Although as much as I love my story and characters, I'm not ready to share it with the world. An hour later, I finish shelving all the books on both carts. When Lizzy came in, she was surprised.