Deal with the Devil - Fear the devils series book 1

Chapter 7

"Thank you, dear. I'll be back in around 5 hours!" says Mrs. Pepperwood before practically running out of the building.

Now Celine was completely alone with no company except for the books around her, sitting on the chair behind the counter, distressing thoughts running through her mind, persecuting her as a hunter does with its prey. She couldn't tell how long she was captivated by her thoughts throwing her back to the humiliation of Michael.

Nobody likes you

Ugly historian freak

Not worthy of my love

Repeated all over again in her head, the thoughts not letting go of her no matter how long she tried to suppress them.

How could Michael be so coldhearted? Did he skip school on these days only to be with this supercilious girl? What did he even see in her?

Thinking about that hurt her so badly it felt like her breast would be crushed from the inside, and her heart stabbed with a knife through her heart.

Celine didn't want to cry anymore, definitely not while working with some customers watching her. By reverting to reality, she noticed she still was all alone in the building, with no customer to be found. To check if that's the case she stood up and checked on each corner. While checking every row, the bell of the entrance door chimed signalizing someone setting a foot into the library. Terminating her search, she went back to the counter where a strange-looking old woman, probably in her 70s with long gray hair, waited for her.

"Hello, how can I help you?"  Celine asked with kindness in her voice and a fake smile on her face.

"Hello, my dear. I'm searching for a book which I could borrow. I already have a card so the formalities aren't needed anymore."

"Of course, would you mind telling me which book we're talking about?"

"It's a book about magic and dark spells." The woman answers with indifference as if searching for these kinds of books was the most normal thing in the world.

"I believe we have a book of this kind in here. If you want, I can help you search."

"Yes, fabulous."

Celine searched every row where this book could probably be but the search was pointless, nothing is to be found in this sector so she turned back to the woman who joined her in the search. Eventually, she had to approach the woman to tell her the bad news.

"I'm sorry to disappoint, but we do not own a book with dark magic."

At that, the old woman's mood changed to a cynical facial expression.

"I know you have; I can feel it! There have to be more books than that."

"The owner does have access to more books, unfortunately, I don't. The room is always closed and prohibited for everyone to enter, including me."

"It is really important for me to have this book right now. I promise to give it back by tomorrow but please look for it. The room is open." The woman practically pleaded on her way to her knees. Before Celine would let that happen, she agreed to look if the door is closed or not but didn't promise anything.

How desperate was this woman to go on her knees, she asked herself.

Celine suggested that the woman should stay and wait for her at the counter until she was back.

The woman, now relieved, nodded and promised to stay where she is.

Tensed, Celine went to the forbidden corridor, everything in her common sense demanded she turns around and tells the woman that the door is closed without even checking. Staying in front of the door she was about to push down the door handle in slow motion with hesitant movements.