The God & The Shadow

Chapter 33

VERONICA

The soldiers gave us a wide berth as we entered the cavernous library. Candles were haphazardly lit amidst the darkening room at the waning sunlight that streamed through the iron-wrought windows.

All of us were here, except for Florens, Hermes, and Lore. Whatever the reason of absence the three gods had, I did not know.

Everyone started scattering, making the most out of the one given hour we only had. I grabbed the chamberstick on the table with a lit candle and made my way through the long rows of books.

It wasn't as big as Lore's in the Underworld, but it was bigger than any mortal library I've ever seen or visited.

I walked through the long hallway, carefully reading the titles of the ancient texts all throughout. Some were in foreign languages, some were about creatures of old I hadn't heard in a long time.

It had been like that for what felt like hours. My arms cramped from holding the candle out for too long after the moon ascended and all other light sources were snuffed out. I didn't have my watch on me; it stopped working after my little moment with the rain earlier and I hadn't had the time to fix it in between my time with Lore and our trip to the library.

I rounded the corner to see Nixon poring over a stack of books he had placed on a table. Slowly stepping back, I tried to escape.

"I already heard you a few seconds ago, Veronica. No need to run from me." The angel said as he kept his eyes on the book he was rifling through. I scoffed and grabbed a book from the stack and started reading.

"How the hell are we supposed to find the book we need anyway?" I queried.

He closed the book and picked up another. "I am just as clueless as you."

I rolled my eyes as I closed the book with one hand and picked up my candle once more. Nixon trailed after me as I continued my exploration of the library.

Just like others, there had to be a system to it. Upon entering, books about great kingdoms, fae ancestry and pedigree were all on the first shelf. If we somehow could get to the portion of the library about tongues and foreign languages, perhaps we wouldn't have to stay too long.

"What are you thinking?"

I stopped and turned around, nearly burning his eyebrow at the sudden distance he had cut in between us. "Do you remember where you found that book you used before to decode that message from the dark angels during the angel civil war?"

He opened his mouth, then closed it. Nixon's eyes trailed everywhere before his feet started walking, leaving me to trail behind him like a lost puppy.

I silently noted the directions we were taking, remembering some of the book titles I'd be able to recall if I ever need to leave the dark library. It had been a habit of mine from when I was younger— once you enter a room, you must always plan your escape.

He led me to a portion of the library that had gilded scrolls instead of wooden, and started rifling through  the books with one hand.

"What does it look like?" I asked as I stood next to him and looked up at the tower of books.

He continued shuffling through the shelf, "It's a leather-bound book dyed green with golden characters on its spine."