House of Stained Glass

Chapter One

Lauren George hated her job. Right now, she was hunched over her desk, typing information into a series of forms to generate insurance policies. Then came the tedious task of wading through dense contract language, each line feeling like it was draining her very soul. She despised every moment of it—but it paid well. And with her overpriced studio apartment, terrible shopping habits, and her cat Rex to take care of, she needed a solid paycheck.

This wasn't the direction she thought her life would take. Everyone made a fuss about majors when she was looking at colleges, so she chose an affordable, creative university with a strong film program. Working on a film set seemed incredible, with so many different paths to explore. She always loved watching epic movies and tv growing up, like Lord of the Rings and Xena. She loved those fantasy worlds and wanted to help create them. She could have been a writer, but that wasn't really her strong suit. Editing was more her style, and she even enjoyed directing. Unfortunately, after two years of unpaid internships, bills—including those hefty college loans—piled up. Splitting her time between interning and bartending was not sustainable. So when Marcy, her old business-major roommate, posted on social media that her company was hiring and willing to train, Lauren jumped at the opportunity.

That was five years ago.

"Knock, knock."

Lauren looked up from her screen as Jason mimed knocking on the side of her cubicle. She suppressed a sigh, glancing at the clock—4:03 PM—and forced a smile.

"Hi, Jason. What's up?"

He let out a long sigh. "Well, I hate to ask this, but..."

"You need me to rush one of your accounts, which probably means overtime tonight?"

Jason nodded eagerly reminiscent of an annoying bobble-head.

"I need you to get the Phillip Corp account done before tomorrow morning."

Lauren had been looking forward to a cozy evening of lazy girl pasta, a glass of wine, and binge-watching her latest obsession. But that would have to wait. Jason only ever came to her when he was in a bind; everyone did, since she'd set the precedent of being willing to work overtime. It wasn't that she truly wanted to deal with her job outside 9 to 5, but the extra pay was nice, especially since Rex needed a new cat bed. However, after years in the company, she'd finally learned to atleast set some boundaries.

"Okay, but I'm taking it home with me."

"Of course! I actually already talked to Dennis, and you can head out now to grab a bite on the way."

That meant he already assumed she'd say yes. The thought irked her even more but she bit down her retort.

"Oh, um, perfect. I'll leave right away then."

Jason was already walking away before she could finish. Letting out a sigh, she saved her work and disconnected her laptop from the display.

By 4:10, Lauren was downstairs and out the lobby doors, on the express bus by 4:15, and walking toward her apartment by 4:45. It felt bittersweet knowing she still wouldn't get home until 5 PM and had a huge pile of work to still get done.

She debated grabbing dinner from the halal spot around the corner when she noticed a new storefront where just yesterday there had been an empty space with brown paper on the windows. Now, the windows glimmered with stained glass, revealing shelves of books inside. The sign, crafted in mosaics, read "The Library." That's a confusing name for a bookstore, Lauren thought, but the design was beautiful and books were already one of her shopping addictions. Before she realized it, she found herself pushing open the door.

A bell chimed softly as she entered, more reminiscent of a church bell than the usual electronic chimes. Actually, there didn't seem to be any electronics in sight. Even what she assumed was the checkout counter was nothing more than a table with a notepad and a box. Maybe this is a soft opening, she though. The shop resembled a castle library more than a typical bookstore. The shelves soared to the ceiling, and there was even a second floor. The carpet was richly ornate, with vibrant greens and deep blues. To one side, she spotted a cozy reading nook beneath another stained glass window, the light filtering through it beautifully. Two plush armchairs piled with pillows and a comfy ottoman beckoned to her, along with a side table offering tea. This place was a dream.

As she turned to explore the other side of the room, something caught her eye. A long-haired grey cat yawned and stretched next to the bookshelves. Eager to give it some pets, she stepped closer, but the cat lazily looked up and slinked around the corner. Just as she moved to follow it, she almost bumped into an older man. He looked like he could be her grandfather, with a short grey beard and neatly combed grey hair, deeply focused on the books before him. Startled, Lauren realized she was now just inches away from him. She stepped back and was about to apologize when he turned his head and spoke.

"Hello, Lauren. I am the wizard, Kyrios, and it's time for you to begin your journey."

"Uhhh."

"They need you. You must start your quest to keep them safe and guide them."

As he spoke, she noticed his robe—more reminiscent of a senior center outfit than anything wizardly. A part of her thought she should alert someone that this man seemed lost, but first, she needed to escape this bizarre encounter.

"Lauren—"

"Yenzik polski."

"What? Lauren, I know this seems—"

"No speakee Englesh."

"Lauren—," he started with exasperation seeming to line his features.

Before he could finish, she turned and hurried out the front door, colliding with someone on the sidewalk. A petite, olive-toned woman steadied her, concern etched on her face.

"Adios mio! Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm so sorry! I was just in the bookshop, and this poor old man kept—"

"What bookshop?"

Lauren turned to point at the shop, only to find an empty storefront with brown paper on the windows. Panic rose in her chest as she tried to make sense of the sudden shift. The storefront was also small and single-storied. But that didn't make sense, she thought. She was in the bookshop. It was just here. There was a man and he said he was a wizard. She started to feel a pulsing around her ears and broke out into a sudden sweat. Her vision pinholed as she suddenly felt gravity lose its grasp on her.