Classy, Controlled Chaos - The STEAM Team Adventures

⭐️ The Past [4/5] ⭐️

Edward's POV:

With the assistance of Addison's little trinket of a talisman, I managed to teleport up onto the Horizon Library's floating island, materializing just in front of the double doors.

To my surprise, they were both wide open, so I walked inside without a second thought.

"Addison? Marshall?" I called out for my two companions, looking up at the broad, dome skylight that made up the library's ceiling.

No answer.

Ugh, c'mon... They should respond to me if I get closer.

Weaving through the towering walls of bookshelves, I navigated through the labyrinth, searching for my companions.

With the only sources of light being the moonlight filtering in from the skylight and the floating, lilac candles hovering beside the end of each bookshelf, I found myself losing my sense of direction.

Every turn I took looked exactly the same as the last, and every stray pile of books seemed like a vague silhouette of Addison or Marshall hiding in the shadows.

Determined to find them, I jumped up, grabbing a floating candle in one hand, and continued my search.

Hot wax trickled down and splashed on my white silk glove, warm enough for me to feel it but not enough to hurt me.

"Hey, Addison, I found your secret stash of fanfiction!" I called out, darting past another wall of bookshelves. "I'm gonna read it if you don't respond to me!"

Silence.

Empty threats clearly wouldn't coax her to respond, so I decided to take a different approach.

A few minutes later, I found the grand staircase that least to the second floor of the library, sprinting up the stairs with ease.

My velvet-red cape trailed behind me, the mink fur collar brushing against my neck as I ran.

I skidded to a stop at the top of the stairs, brushing a back of my golden-blonde hair and adjusting my glasses.

Marshall and Addison were standing beside each other on the balcony, huddled around a small card.

I let go of the floating candle, letting it levitate beside the edge of the staircase's guard railing as I silently approached them.

They both were too focused on staring at the letter to notice me, speaking in hushed tones I couldn't pick up.

Hiding behind one of the several marble pillars that led to the balcony, I eyed them both, examining their body language.

Addison seemed very reserved, either shrinking away from Marshall or hesitating on getting closer to him.

The blacksmith had his gaze intently fixed on the card, analyzing it with his bird-like, attentive amber gaze.

They looked like lovebirds, literally.

A shy, reserved little birdie nestled beside her fierce, loyal protector. It was kinda cute.

"You said that last part out loud," Marshall snapped at me.

I realized I had been caught. "Haha, my bad."

Addison's cheeks were tinted a rosy red as she pulled up her hood, swallowing her face in shadow. "Care to explain why you're here?"

I smiled half-heartedly at them. "Oh, nothing much. Just wanted to see my old friends."

I reached out to hug Addison, but Marshall firmly shoved me back, glaring me down.