Chapter 21

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 "Why don't you want to come in? You always used to love my library, I dare say you may have loved it more than you loved me. You took it's key with you when you left me behind." The cold voice roused me from my sleep with a cold sweet on my aching back. I propped myself up on my hand and peered over the edge of the shelf, catching sight of Mortemine just as she entered the room before darting back down into the corner.

"I didn't take the key because I loved the library it unlocked, I took it because I needed something to assure me all my past life was not a mear hallucination." Mother replied, her voice soft and confident. Did she really believe that she would be of more use to us as a captive than as a contemporary?

"Well that was not my point anyway, what was it you said as you lost your wits back there in Illy's room? I'm confident I misheard you because you were speaking little sense." Her voice seared it's way through whatever it touched, like a burning fire.

"I wasn't in the right mind. I spoke, but I do not now believe wholeheartedly in what I said."

"You're chewing your cheek again, I can hear your lying from here. Would you mind being a little more honest now that you've got nothing to loose?" Mortemine said. I felt my ears perk up at this. Chewing her cheek, did that indicate she was lying? How did Mortemine know this and not me, her own daughter?

"I might have little to loose but I wouldn't say I don't have anything."

"Where are my daughter and her new pet anyway? Is that what you've got to loose? I assume it's not the case that they would volunteer to remain in a prison they could break out of, and what a shame, when I was so looking forward to seeing the three of you beg, all distraught in your chains, for release." Mortemine was getting closer, I could hear her voice get a little louder, but not hearing any movement of ladders, I figured she was still on the ground. Illy beside me was starting to stir, her face coming to life like disgruntled doll. Her eyes blinked open in surprise at the next voice, but thankfully she remained silent.

"I've no idea actually, I left almost as soon as they let me free, under the pretext of sleep of course, they'd never let me rush to your side if they had known."Mother said. Illy's eyes were full of shock, she scooted silently closer to the back of the shelf.

"Who long have they been here?" She whispered quickly.

"Not too long," I replied quietly, my words cut off my Mortemine.

"Of course you did, but I doubt you've got no clue to their whereabouts. Where was it you were going to sleep, or are you more inclined to tell me about what all that jargon in Illy's room was?" Mortemine stayed silent after this, the room filled with a tense air, like a stand-off was happening.

"The book," Illy whispered, her breath on my ear. "I left the book out." I raised my head a little to peer over the edge, catching sight of the blue book as it lay open on the table corner. I saw Mother standing beside Mortemine, slightly pinned between her and the bookshelf, she had cut her hair short. I was baffled by the short black curls protruding from the top of her head, the sides shaved cleanly, her big blue eyes like opaque marbles, blocking out all view of her emotions. I slipped back down into hiding.

"I told you Mine, it was just that, jargon. I don't expect you to believe it, so there is then no point in saying it."

"You sure are defensive today, won't you give up on all this and just let me solve the enigma, for the sooner I solve it the sooner you can rest, and I can move on. It's no pleasure of mine to deal with the lot of you, I just want it back to normal, Illy her typical self, and me mine. Now what did you say, I don't care it if was jargon, I want to hear that jargon again." I could almost feel the press of Mortemine's words, even though they were not directed at me in specifics. Illy slipped around and peaked out the shelf now, slipped back down a moment later.

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