Another Life in The Grand Library

Chapter 18. Diversion

Dryad shot opened her eyes and got up abruptly. She gasped and coughed as soul came back to her body. It took awhile for her to regain her senses. With labored breath, she looked around. They were still in the library but back to their own world. She noticed it was night by now. So... in Another World it was always twilight no matter what hour it was. Meanwhile here, the color of the sky changed, day and night shifted as the times were flowing.

She rubbed her hand, at where Dervin scratched her. It was strange that even as souls without flesh, they still could feel hurt and all kinds of sensations.
She turned her head to Haze whom actually had awakened at the same time with Dryad, but he just stared at the ceiling with a shock expression. His mouth hung open as if had a war in his mind, arguing whether that really happened or only a dream.

"Well.. well.. My job is done!" Dervin said.

His voice snapped Haze out from whatever he was going through in mind. Haze got up and flashed a glance to the cat. Sir Alvard laid down on the floor with Dervin sat on his chest. Haze's eyes widened and he quickly moved towards him. Dryad also rushed and kneeled beside them.

"So that was not a dream..." Haze murmured to himself.

"Of course not!" Dervin snapped.

Dryad remembered something and looked around, "Brilliant?" she called, "Brilliant!"

Brilliant was the only one who wasn't there. Her eyes tried searching for any sign of him, but he didn't even appear.

"Why? Didn't Brilliant jump to the vortex too? He wasn't trapped somewhere, right, Dervin?" Dryad asked, almost panicked.

"Worry not. The Boss probably has come back to his own body as well, just like you two." Dervin said. "Alive. Safe and sound. Just like I promised."

Both Hazard and Dryad were surprised by his remark.

"Wait... What did you say? What do you mean?" Dryad asked. "Alive?"

"Well... I don't have to answer that! You will know by yourself later. Maybe. But right now, since I have done my job perfectly, it's my turn to collect my payment. Who's gonna be my slave between you?" Dervin asked while curling his mustache with delight.

Dryad frowned "No. Dervin. I need to know what you mean by that? You said Brilliant came back to his body?"

"Who's gonna be my slave between you?" Dervin cut her words off and spoke with a higher tone as if he was giving a command rather than asking.

A loud sound of thunder interrupted them. A dark cloud covered the sky as lightning appeared in the distance. The strong wind blew fiercely and the trees shook violently, causing them to almost fall down. The storm was about to come.

"Guys, listen," Haze said, "Let's decide later about that. Right now, we have to take Sir Alvard somewhere safe. I had a very bad feeling if we stayed here any longer. Let's leave!"

Dryad nodded, "You're right."

Dervin hissed, "You go by yourself! I'm outta here!" he disappeared with a puff of black smoke. "But remember! I will come again to collect my payment!" Dervin's voice still lingered in the air, echoing all through the room.

Dryad heard sounds of people enchanting. Maybe from outside.

"What's that? There's people gathering outside?" Dryad whispered. She tried listening carefully to the noises.

"I have no idea. But yes, it seems there's something going on outside!" Haze told her quietly, "

"Go, check from the window!" Dryad said.

Haze nodded and carefully walked towards the window. He looked out through the window to see what was happening outside. Haze's eyes widened in shock as he saw a group of people doing an occult ritual. They slaughtered a lamb and did something with its blood and organs. They looked very evil and dark, almost like they were demons.
"What the hell?! Who are these people?" Haze said.

"Ssh! keep your voice low!" Dryad whispered.

Haze looked back at Dryad with a worried look on his face. "What do we do now? These people look dangerous..."

"Well, yes. They are all, indeed, dangerous. Looks like the ritual is about to begin."

"What?" Haze asked.

"They are secretly doing the occult rituals and don't want anyone to know. They will kill us the moment they know we are here!"

Haze looked at Dryad in horror. He realized that she was right, and if those people found out about them, then it would be very bad.

"Grave... this is grave. You're right... We have to get out of here now! There is no time to waste." Haze looked back at those people, "but we can't go through the main gate. People are gathering in the courtyard. The distance between the yard and the front gate is quite far, but...Look at them. They are already gathered in the middle! They will catch us before we can reach the gate."

"Well... there is a simple idea that crossed my mind," Dryad gulped at her words and hesitated as if she couldn't believe she was saying, "we burn this place."

"Dryad?" Haze frowned confused, "you mean the library? Are you sure?!"

"Yes! Well... we need a diversion and fire is our best option. You know that there is only one main gate of this mansion and we can't pass through if there's too many of them blocking the way. We must distract them. And since I am not strong enough to carry Sir Alvard, I will stay here for a moment to set the fire. You go through the backdoor and wait for me. Catch what I said?"

Haze nodded his head in understanding. "Alright. I will do as you say! I'll carry him out when the fire spreads and people are busy enough to cover our escape."

"Good. Go now!" Dryad said.

Without further delay, Hazard carried the unconscious form of Sir Alvard on his shoulders then headed outside through the backdoor. After a while, they hid behind trees and bushes of a nearby garden, waiting for Dryad to set the fire.

Library has a dozen of match boxes, which they often used to light the candles whenever electricity is out. Dryad could find them in less than one minute, even though the library was in a complete mess. She quickly stacked the papers near the curtains and set the fire. Soon the flame started spreading and reached the other curtains. The smoke and flames soon engulfed everything, burning and devouring every trace in a matter of seconds.

"Fire!!" Someone yelled when the crowd spotted the sudden burst of flames. They hurriedly tried to put the fire out.
In the midst of that chaos, Dryad and Haze managed to run through the yard, passing the front gate without being discovered by anyone.