The Last Librarian

Chapter 8

Edilia

We made our way to the winding streets of Verona, wearing hoods over our head like most people wear right now. No one really wants to be known. Aquilina dragged me to a small stall that sells jewelries and accessories.

"Edilia, look how pretty they are. You wanna buy one?"

They were indeed pretty. But I don't think I needed it right now.

"Just choose one, it'll be a great charm later. I'll imbue some magic on it, so please choose one." She murmured to me.

I nodded, smiling at her. She's been so kind to me ever since we met.

I look down on the different colors and design. One caught my attention, a blue hairpin, the same color of Everett's eyes. Aquilina followed my gaze and landed on the same item. I glanced away quickly. My face heating, I don't want her to think that I'm somehow attracted to him. I have duties to finish and I don't have time for liking someone. I liked someone before but master says boys and relationships are a distraction of my studies and my reading. So I squashed that feeling as soon before it blossomed. But with Everett, everytime I see him my heart flutters. I tried to squashed it but my heart simply refuse, that the idea is absurd. He doesn't like me and so should I.

I simply chose the first thing I grabbed, smiled at Aquilina and we left the stands.

Somehow Ranulf appeared by my side. "Should we vote Elspeth out of this team. She's been giving me this look."

I laughed. "I don't think that's gonna happen, despite being crazy for you." He groaned. "We need her. Why don't you like Elspeth anyway?"

"Not her, witches in general." Ranulf made a shuddering noise. "When I was a human, I was a former Clairvoyant you know. I'm going to our local school and then there's this witch, God's I got creep out Everytime I think about it."

"Oh, you don't have to force yourself to tell me then."

"No it's alright. It's alright, my therapist says I have to talk about it sometimes."

"You have a therapist?"

He grinned at me.

I punched him in the arm.

"Kiddin, anyway. I thought she was really pretty, I ask her out, turns out she likes me too. Then long story short, turns out she's a physcho bitch, she's so obsess with me. When I broke up with her, she harassed every girl I'm closed too. Then one day she snapped, yelling if she can't have me then no one can, she's telling me how she'll carved my heart out put it on a bottle so I will always be with her." Ranulf face looks green. "Then when I thought I was gonna die when she slashed my chest apart, a very old dude came to my rescue, says he hates witches. But he can't kill her as per the accords or the Witches will wage war. So instead he bit me in front of her, she ran away. Old dude turn out to be the Vampire Council Rep, the oldest and most powerful. I was dying anyway and he doesn't want the blood to go to waist. Imagine his surprise when I survive the transformation and became a vampire."

I stared at him with awe. I love books but real life stories is like a fire and I'm the moth. "Tell me more. I've studied your kind and Lord Raphael never just bite anyone, and even he did so, no one inherited his ability to walk on daylight."

"Oh, he did. After the initial shock, he tried to kill me by throwing me directly out of the sun. When my skin didn't burn like it should. He decided to keep me." He shrugged like it was nothing.

"Oh, gods, that's amazing."

"I know, I am, thanks."

"What are you guys talking about?"

Ranulf jumped when Elspeth head appeared between us. She's holding a loaf of bread and a small cup of coffee.

I looked around and notice that Aquilina and Everard were not following us behind. "Where are they?"

Ranulf sniffed the air, "Too many people, I can't sniff them. Hey, witch, you're good with finding people find them."

"Oh, for you I will but for a price." Elspeth finger ran to Ranulf's chest. Ranulf backed away and hid behind me. And it's looks like we do not have to search for them because Aquilina and Everard strode together, talking casually. A pang of sharp jealousy swirled inside me. I shouldn't feel this way. They have been together ever since, and Aquilina has nothing but kind to me. I never confirmed if they were somehow dating or dated before. But they both always looks comfortable with one another which I hope I can be with someone someday.

"Where you guys been?" Ranulf asked.

"Nothing." Aquilina says as she strode by my side.

"Are we near?" Everard ask Elspeth.

"Yeah, that brown house next to the burned house, that's were she lives."

Once we're outside the door, Aquilina pulled me behind her, preparing a protection spell in case something awry happen.

Everard knocked softly. No one answered, he was about to knock again when the door opened slightly. A tiny hands of a woman peeked out of the door.

"Who - wait you." She sneered as she pointed her finger to Everard. "All of you come inside, quick!"

Spooked with the urgency of her voice we hurried inside. Aquilina still has her protection spell ready in case a trap is waiting inside.

The girl made sure the door is locked and the windows and peeked outside before facing us, her faced partially hidden by a dark shadow. She's holding a lamp other than that, some of the light came from those wall cracks outside.

"Come with me. We can't stay here." She pulled the hood on her head.

"Wait, we can't just go with you."

"You need answers, yes? My sister is wearing a charm to blocked me from seeing her. The moment you removed it, that's when I-" she didn't finish. "Then I saw you. I'm in the process of leaving this town but I'm waiting for you, knowing you'll look for me. And so you know, demon's are following you. I'm not powerful as my sister but I can see them. So grab that magic dust it will hide our scent."

She gave us a bowl full of sand, Aquilina took a handful and tossed it over my head. She took some too and tossed it on hers as well as the others.

The girl opened a trapdoor under a rag and motion for us to follow.