Adelaide

Chapter IX

Adelaide DuPont

The library never fails to mesmerize me. It's a masterpiece, brimming with knowledge of everything possible to know. Although, now, my attention lingers not on the books, but on the tenebrous figure leaning almost invisibly against the towering shelves.

"Julian's here."

Sapphire angles her head inquisitively. Unaccustomed to his obscurity, her acute cerulean gaze fails to discern him amidst the shadows.

"Is he," she retorts monotonously, saving herself from apparent oblivion.

"Come, I'd like you to meet him."

Grasping her hand, I hurry us both in the direction of Julian's silhouette, not stumbling once until we reach the peak of the spiral staircase, where I halt at the sight of those pale eyes gleaming with wit, shrouded only minutely by the pretty ebony curls falling over his brow.

"Adelaide, what a lovely surprise."

"Hardly — I come here everyday. Julian, this is Saph."

"A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Saph. Adelaide tells me your knowledge of the arts is quite remarkable."

Rather than submitting to his flattery as one perhaps ought to upon receiving such a fine compliment, Sapphire's avian gaze pools with incredulity. Regardless, she maintains the civility to offer him a polite smile.

"Thank you. As for you, our Adelaide expresses much favor for your enticing company."

Julian inclines his head respectfully, his pale eyes fixing on mine and lingering there indiscernibly for a moment.

"I must excuse myself, ladies, though I really am pleased to meet you, Saph. I'm sure we'll see more of each other in time."

Without awaiting either of our goodbyes, the strange boy exits the library, briskly as if even another second of acknowledgement might endanger him. Maybe such is the case — if I'm to keep comparing him to my James. I watch from afar as he steps through the door and disappears into the corridor, before directing my attention back to Sapphire.

"I know, he's lovely. So, where do we start looking in here?"

"Saints, Adelaide, he clearly thinks you're lovely, too. Am I supposed to pretend that didn't just happen? The way he looks at you with those eyes like moonlight — I'd risk anything for that."

She shakes her head, grinning in amusement as she brushes over my legitimate question. Of course, she would never really jeopardize so much; aside from her attachment to Topaz, she's hardly the type to delight in fantasies of love and admiration. Wisdom arises from the mind; the heart is emotional and imprudent. Although, sometimes, it serves one well to feign belief in the contrary, to feel human.

"They look so alike, but Julian's the exact opposite of James. It's quite odd, though I'm beginning to adjust to it. Anyway, we should focus. Do you reckon Ral, Topaz, or Ruby would be able to help at all?"

I only include the last name out of courtesy. Ruby's presence here would only be a liability, though I assume she'd decline any invitation to join our murder mystery, anyway.

Sapphire merely shrugs and obliges, "All three of them, probably. That's our dynamic. We only know all we do on account of our experiences."

I understand what she means. Emerald is their curiosity and intelligence; Topaz, their creativity and sense of adventure; Ruby, their bold ambition. They all need each other. Who is she without those three behind her?

"I'll speak with them later tonight, if you're comfortable with that," she adds, as if she could ever conceal such a secret from them for much longer.

I nod affirmatively, drifting toward the nearest shelf to run a hand along the ancient books with leather bound covers and elegant texts.