-Julie-
I don't really know how long I sat there, just staring at the page. I couldn't particularly read. I only kept looking up at the part of Analael. This was such a strange thing to me. She wasn't paying much attention to me, and it looked like she was almost guarding the books she stood in front of. When I had gone up to look at a few on that shelf, she had said I didn't need any books there.
My curiosity really ate away at me. I had to know what was on those pages; I had to pass the time with something while Vincent was away.
"Um, Analael?" I spoke up, looking at her directly.
She looked back and pain flared from my eyes to the back of my head. I could tell she felt the pain too. "Yes?"
"Will you go and get me something to drink?" I asked. "My throat is a bit dry."
She hesitated, looking at the books on the desk I was sitting at. She slowly nodded and left the room. I jumped up after I knew she was well out of earshot and grabbed a few volumes. I cast a quick spell for slow time, and to speed me up. They were weak, considering I didn't know how to cast powerful ones yet, but they would get the job done.
As I looked at them, to pick which one I wanted to read first, I wondered why she wouldn't want me to read these volumes. Was she hiding something? I plucked the ones that were thickest and dropped them onto the table. I sat down and pulled the first one from the pile in front of me. They had no title, and they all looked worn and well used. I flipped open and looked at the first page. The font was neat and tidy, handwritten like all the books I have read (this world may have magic more powerful than earth, trust me, my eyes told me, but they lack printing presses, apparently). This written book was different though. It was set up with entries, every entry dated. As I read, I realized who these journals where written by.
All of Analael's experiences where on this shelf.
I shut this book and went about doing another spell. This one was more tiring for me, but it would help me read all the books on the shelf in the small amount of time I had. It was like osmosis for scriptures. I only had to say Libre Biblitec and I could touch any book and have all the knowledge it held.
Once I said the spell, I felt my energy draining from the strain to keep it active already. I jumped up, touching the books at my desk. Then I ran over to the shelves and ran my hands over each spine. My head spun at the endless things that were happening. Wars, hardships, death, famine. But there was a large year gap. There had to be more somewhere. I glanced around, hoping there were more books with this style and worn spine. I had to hurry.
But the spell wore out upon my reserve of energy being lost. I fell to the floor and felt sweat roll down my back. I bit my lip, getting up. I had to put the books back before she brought me my drink. I'm glad the slow time was still in effect. It gave me the few extra seconds I needed to get everything back in place and me back in my seat. As soon as I sat down, the spells all ended and I laid my head on the desk.
I hadn't realized I fell asleep until I woke up. Analael was back in place by her books. My headache flared and I quickly looked away. I laughed nervously. "I had no idea I had fallen asleep."
She didn't look at me. I grasped the glass she had sat in front of me while I was out. I didn't know what it was; it was honey colored. I swirled it around in my glass as she spoke to me. "I know how tired you must be."
I nodded and took a sip. It burned on its way down.
She continued talking. "You did cast quite a few spells while I got you mead." I whipped my head up, not caring if I was in pain when I looked at her. She had a sad smile on her lips. "My memories soon enough will only reside in these shelves."
I was frozen. I didn't want her realm to end. I wanted it to be like it was before all the wars and death. I couldn't believe that she was going to die, if she was like Cyprio.
I was yanked from my thoughts by her scream of agony. A few mirrored the screams from a distance, no doubt her other parts. All of them screamed. She collapsed to her knees. I threw myself to her side and tried to help her up. She looked at me with one of her smiles, lacking happiness.
She locked her eyes with mine, but this time it didn't hurt. Her eyes weren't blue, they were a beautiful, earthy green that reminded me of forests and peace. I had no idea what was happening. Tears sprung to my eyes. "Analael?"
She laughed softly. "Keep Vincent close. He's a man worth the trouble." Then her eyes lost their focus and they became dull. "Goodbye, little Julie."
Analael disinegrated into thin air, right out of my arms. Her part was gone. I stood up and yelled for another part to come and help. No one came. My yells echoed off the books. I glanced at the shelf she had guarded. She was really gone.
