Our Own Protection

»Chapter Five«

»Eudora's POV«

The ball went long into the night. It was still going on as I finally was able to drag Paris out of the ballroom, and to the library, without anybody noticing.

My eyes went wide, looking around the large room. It was almost as big as the ballroom, but covered in tall bookshelves, and chairs and tables.

Paris looked around, seeing a window seat and smiling as she walked over. I'll know where to find her.

I walked towards one of the shelves, looking at a part of the books that lined the tall shelf. It was fantasy books.

I grabbed one, looking at the back before placing it back. This place had to be filled with thousands and thousands of books. I walked further towards the back, looking at the books. Dust filled the air as I traced my hand across one of the rows.

My eyes caught an old book that looked worn out; eyebrows raised, I ran my hand down the spine of the book, cleaning off the dust to read the title but there wasn't one. Odd.

I grabbed the book just as Paris walked towards me. I tried to pull it out but it stopped itself and bounced back to the shelf.

"What?" I asked, before hearing some creeks from my right. Paris looked over at it too and I started to walk over, only for Paris to place her hand on my shoulder as a warning to stop.

I looked at her, head tilting. "Eudora, we don't know what that was," she said and I shook my head.

"It could be our way out of this engagement," I reasoned and Paris looked up towards the way the sound came from. Her hand fell from my shoulder as she began to lead. I followed.

We looked around the corner to see an opening in the wall. "What the heck is that?" I asked. Paris looked at me then back up at it.

"I don't know."

I started walking towards it, making sure Paris couldn't catch me as I walked around her. I neared the opening, looking in and seeing a notebook on a podium with bags around it.

Paris stood beside me, looking confused. I looked around the library once more before entering the vault like room.

Laid on the podium was a notebook. It was filled with names, amounts of money and drugs, and it had pages and pages on people who owed something. Some going as high as three-thousand, and some going over.

"What the heck is this?" I asked, looking to the right of me at Paris. Her eyes were wide as she took it in, looking at the bags at our feet and kicking one.

"What do you think you're doing here?" I turned my head slightly to see Fall staring at us, arms crossed. Paris shrugged, looking at him, without an ounce of fear.

"You said to make ourselves at home," she answered before holding her arms out and motioning to the room. "We're just exploring."

I nodded in agreement with her.

Fall growled, blocking our exit as we tried to walk out. "This was private within the family," he stated, looking down at us.

"Last time I checked, we were technically now in your family," I said quietly and his eyes shot to me.

"So the little quiet mouse finally speaks," he laughed before
leaning down to my eye height. "What a shame it'll be the last time."

He reached out to grab Paris and I but we both stepped back, and Paris got in front of me. I looked at her before looking at Fall.

"Could I use my powers to distract him?" I whispered, to Paris, only loud enough for her to hear. She shook her head, glancing at me before whispering.