Atlantian

Becoming Atlantian [10]

Chapter Ten

The next two weeks passed in a blur for Aubrey. She had finally managed to get a map to lead her through the maze that was her new home. However, the complete lack of opulence on the general corridors meant that it was still difficult for her to navigate. Each corridor looking like the last and only by drawing on the walls could she truly navigate the place. Tiberius had told her off when he caught her with chalk in hand. He told her off a lot lately and he also made sure to insult her every time she managed to get lost which was at least two or three times a day. Each time Aubrey merely balled her fist up at her sides as she restrained herself from hurling her fist at his face.

With a huff, Aubrey slammed down a large tome onto the large polished wooden table in the middle of the library. She had already read twelve books since her arrival but she still didn’t feel like she knew enough. It would never be enough when it involved the risk of her life.

 Brushing back a stray strand of hair, she blew dust off of the cover of her latest challenge. It was at least 600 pages thick and was probably hand scribed like most of the tomes in the small stuffy library. Immediately as the cloud of dust rose up into the air, Aubrey erupted in a bout of coughs as she sucked in a breath of dusty air. When she finally calmed, her eyes widened as she laid her eyes on the gleaming badge in the centre of the leather covering. It matched the tattoo that all Atlantian’s bore and it had its own magical essence that seemed from the very binding that was holding it to the front of the book.

Running her fingertips over the front of the book, she hissed when a sharp sting rushed through her skin wherever it touched the plating. Pulling her hand back towards her, Aubrey lifted her fingers to her face, turning them side to side before wiggling them in front of her eyes. Assured that they were fine and weren’t suddenly going to fall off, she returned her attention to the book. Without her touch it seemed rather unimportant, yet the moment her finger touched the leather covering it lit up like a Christmas tree and filled Aubrey with feelings she had never felt before.

Absently she placed snowy white palm flat over the Atlantian symbol in the centre of the front cover causing it to hum loudly, the sound vibrating the floor beneath her feet. Yet, when Aubrey glanced over at the old librarian sat in the corner of the room, she noted he hadn’t even stirred from the position he had been in an hour ago.

A click sounded from the book, drawing her attention back to the leather bound book of pure unharnessed magic. Aubrey could see a slip of leather that had been binding it shut had fallen away so that when she lifted the front cover, it gave away easily under her touch. The cover flopped down onto the table top in a swirl of dust causing her to choke and cough as it tickled her throat.

At first, the pages of the great tome were blank but as Aubrey focused her eyes upon the page, elegant black script appeared on the creamy parchment. ‘The book of the Atlantis’ was scrawled in huge letters with a small fine print underneath that read ‘and its sister worlds; Antoria, Celestium, Earth, Demonicus, Avalia and Utopia.’

Aubrey frowned at those words, she only knew of Atlantis and Earth but this book was telling her that there were another 5 worlds besides the ones she knew. Leaning back in the chair with wide eyes she let out a gulp.

“How can it be my destiny to protect so many, when I am just me.” She whispered as her fingers flicked through the tome before stopping on a random page. The title sent unknown chills down her spine and she couldn’t prevent herself from mouthing the words to herself. “The fallen Atlantian.”

Frowning at the page as more elegant script appeared upon the parchment; Aubrey noted that it was as if someone was actually writing it as her eyes trailed across the page. Most of it seemed like nonsense to the red head but she got the underlying message of the text. A man, an Atlantian, had been a prince in his own kingdom before he had been recruited as an Atlantian.

The Fallen became hungry for more power, his techniques becoming cruel and harsh. He was responsible for the Great Fire of London on Earth as well as the Great Purge in Celestium. (See chapter on the Curse of the Fallen.)  After stealing the secrets of Atlantis, he fled to his home world and sealed it from the power of the other Atlantians, the plane becoming a void to all magical influence except for him. This upset the balance and created fractures in the fabric of the dimensions, a tear forming between each so that beings from each flooded the next. Documentation during this period is unreliable but it is known that the sacred trinity defeated the Fallen.

The travesty of the Fallen has changed Atlantian policy…

Aubrey waited for more but the writing stopped like someone pausing for thought which caused a furrow to form between her brows. However she was startled when a hand reached around her and pulled the book away from her, but not before she saw that the page was blank once more. Strange, she thought, very strange.

 Following the book up to the thief, she saw Tiberius peering at the book with curiosity as his eyes flicked back and forth across the page. Yet as he read, his expression quickly changed. His face flushed red as if he was embarrassed which had Aubrey’s eyebrows rising into her hair. They went even higher still when Tiberius’ gaze flicked away from the book to her face before blushing brighter. He slammed the book shut with a thump and tossed it onto the table causing Aubrey to scowl at him while her hands stretched out for the book and stroked its cover with loving caresses.

Tiberius rolled his eyes at her as she proceeded to examine every inch of the cover. “Librarians,” he muttered with a snort before taking a seat beside her and waiting patiently for her to stop making love to the book.

“Hey! I heard that,” she chastised him indignantly before slapping him lightly on the arm which only earned her a glare.

“You were supposed to. Now is this really the reason why I had to come looking for you? Books?” He eyed the pile of dusty books with a look of pure and utter disbelief.

The weather had been unnaturally warm for the season in Atlantis so every man, woman and child within the compound had been enjoying the sunshine by cruising on their dragons or going for picnics. Tiberius’ duty demanded he train with Aubrey so he had planned something so they too could enjoy the weather but still keep on schedule. But she had failed to show.

“that’s what I get for being nice,” he chastised himself under his breath.

“Yes books, I was a librarian so it shouldn’t be that hard to comprehend that I like books.”

Aubrey hated herself for it but she even stuck her nose in the air making her look like a snooty cow. She swung her head away from Tiberius as she piled up the books ready to put them all away. Only the doors to the library crashed open and a hooded man with a hunch back hurried into the room.

The old man in the corner that had been snoozing, jumped to his feet and looked ready for battle as his eyes searched the dusty room for enemies. Within 30 seconds he was slumped back down in his chair with his eyes closed and mouth agape as he fell back asleep. Aubrey and Tiberius gave the old man an amused smile before turning their attention to the harried looking man that had disturbed the relative peace of the library.

“what is it Miguel?” Tiberius questioned as he pushed himself up from the table and approached the quivering man.

Miguel gulped and ran a hand down his pale and drawn face.

“The winds have changed and it is bad.” Miguel responded in a frantic whisper. “It looks like war.”

Tiberius cussed and looked back at the rather confused looking Aubrey who was still clutching on to the pile of books like a lifeline.

“Come on little librarian, it’s time for some field training.”

Just a short chapter. Sorry about that. Will try and make the next one a longer and better one. To be honest. Not feeling this story at the moment but I will try and get back to it. Thank you all for you patience.:)