The Library of Powers

Chapter 11 - Part 2

They took the 117 further downtown, to the point where they were almost in Northshore. While Jackson had to admit the buses were efficient,  they were also $2.00 a trip, so Jackson walked whenever he could. Sadly, that wasn't a possibility here. They were a good 3 miles from Jackson's house, and another one from Super's Ladder.

The buildings in this part of downtown were lower, topping off at seven or eight floors each. They also appeared to be mostly abandoned, unless neglected 50s brick was back in style. Truth to be told, the area wasn't really "bad", the street they were walking down had quite a few bustling small businesses. Now, when they turned down a narrow one-way side street which was concerningly dark for the time of day, then Jackson considered the area bad.

"Just a little further." Ivory told him, strides ahead. He had trouble keeping up, despite her being a good half foot shorter than him. They took another turn down onto an even smaller street, and now Jackson was concerned. Would this end with him found weeks later in some rank alley? He dismissed it as nonsense, but he was still uneasy.

As if her power was actually telepathy, Ivory stopped for a moment to reassure him. "It's normal to feel offput here. I set it up to do that."

"You know, that brings up a good question, I still don't know what your power i..." Jackson trailed off as the road widened.

They stood in the threshold of a square, with a small water feature and large madrona trees peeling green under bright orange skin. While the stores around the spot were boarded up with half broken windows, festival lights hung across the enclave, glowing bright despite the time of day.

"Is this?"

"Nah. it's over there," Ivory pointed at one of the closed shops nestled in a corner. Sure enough, the faded sign above it read "Dino and Sons fine establishment."

Ivory went over to unlock the door, while Jackson still marveled at the strange nature of this place. Vera City had hundreds of secret spots to be discovered, and whenever he discovered one he felt a little bit more connected to the city.

A loud clank signaled the opening of Dino & Sons. As Ivory walked inside, she flipped a sign that read "Sorry, we're closed" to "Sorry, we're still closed". As Jackson followed behind her, he noticed it was simply two different signs glued together, the "still" drawn in with permanent marker.

Dino & Sons turned out to be, well, Jackson wasn't exactly sure. The racks of clothes and knick-knacks screamed thrift store, but the layout and large oven off to one side betrayed that the shop's previous position as some sort of restaurant. The floors were linoleum checkerboard, the walls a peeling pastel yellow. The shop was dimly lit by incandescents, and one section had been walled off with large wooden shipping crates. Ivory leaned against a glass table, on which an assortment of lamps stood, unplugged. "So, what do you think?" she asked.

The loaded question spurred Jackson to make a more thorough investigation, so he walked over to a wire rack and picked up a book lying there. Opening it, a hole was cut inside as if to hide a flask or knife. However, instead of either of those, the hole contained the hilt of a sword. Pulling the hilt a fraction of an inch to confirm his suspicions, he turned to face her, a grin on his face. "They're all artifacts."

"Got it in one," she confirmed, "Well, most of them are. That's one of the cooler ones, if not very practical. Look at this."

She walked around hanging pants, and Jackson followed. Reaching her hand into a vase, she pulled out a pair of extremely dark sunglasses. "These," she explained, "if put on someone's face, puts them into a deep slumber. Basically unconscious. With your power and these, you can incapacitate any criminal instantly. Without any force."

Jackson's grin evaporated. "That's cool and all, but I never sai---"

Ivory cut him off with a "Wait!", and ran over to a coat hanger, grabbing a large brimmed hat from one of its rungs. "This doesn't look like much, but if you put it on---"

It was Jackson's turn to cut Ivory off. "You don't understand, a fun gadget won't---"

"A 'fun gadget'? I'm talking about dozens of 'fun gadgets'! Even..." she ran over behind the crates, and Jackson followed again.

The makeshift barricade was blocking a bedroom from sight. A dresser stuffed with clothes rested against the rear wall, a twin bed against the crates. The area was messier than the shop proper, which was a feat in itself. Ivory pulled open a drawer, reached in, and brandished a large brass key. "This beauty can open literally any door. You could be in and out of anywhere in the world with this! Don't tell me this isn't intriguing."

Instead of arguing more, Jackson, in a small voice, eeked out a different response. "You live here?"

Ivory shrank back. "Uh, yeah, but it's not a big deal. I'm almost 18."

"Shit, Ivory. How long have you been living alone?"

Ivory stared at him, her brows narrowing and posture becoming more aggressive. "What kind of high horse are you on? I did my research, I know Mr. and Ms. Reil are off working on some classified containment site. How long have you been living alone?"

Jackson backed off. "you're right, that was hypocritical of me. But, you know, it doesn't make it a good thing. For either of us."

Ivory sighed. "Yeah, but we're almost 18. It's too little too late, better not to kick up a fuss now."

They stood in silence.

Ivory walked over to an alcove, sitting down on a nook where a three-paned window looked outside to the empty square. When Jackson followed, Ivory patted the seat next to her. "This is it," she said, "all I have to offer."

"It was never a deal," Jackson softly spoke, "There was nothing you could have offered me. I don't want to be a superhero."

"Why?" Ivory whispered, her head downturned.

"There are... Things, about my power," he revealed, "Things that need to stay secret."

"And will using you power give it away?" She said slightly stronger.

"It's important enough that I never wanted anyone even knowing I had powers."

"If you don't mind me, uh, asking..."

The mid-day sunlight was streaming in through the window, warming Jackson's skin. He looked into Ivory's eyes, and which seemed muddled and unfocused. As if they weren't her own. They conveyed a feeling Jackson felt every day, as he brushed his teeth, as he walked to school, as he inevitably woke up in The Library instead of in his dreams.

Maybe it was the heat of the moment, or maybe it was something Ivory had said, or maybe it was the handwritten note telling him to be more trusting. Something caused him to take hold of Ivory's hand and do something he had never done before.

He tried to enter The Library of Powers. Not by himself. With another.