Their Reincarnated Mate

05| Charming little bookshop

Leaving Sephora and Angeline, I breathe a sigh of relief. Now don't get me wrong. I love Angeline Williams like a sister, but everyone's got their limits. That girl takes forever when finding something she likes, so I made my escape, leaving the blonde bombshell to her own devices to browse the quaint bookstore I noticed coming in.

After purchasing two vials of perfumes, I promptly found myself standing before three buildings; a charming bookstore tucked inbetween a lingerie store and an intricately floral- designed formal dresses boutique.

Despite the boldness of the lingerie shop and formality of the dress boutique, the bookshop held its own beguiling charm that beckoned with its intimately humble atmosphere and warm earthen clay bricks.

I could practically feel the thrumming of animation from within where I stood. So with a deep breath, I entered.

No sooner had I stepped foot through the wooden door, a symphony of amazing, yet unknown scents buffeted my nostrils. For some odd unknown reason, excitement shot through my body as I fully entered the establishment.

To my surprise, the inside of the building was far more spaced than I assumed- almost like those buildings in J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series.

At the counter to the left side of the entrance facing the books was a large desk, that look eerily like At the counter, a large mahogany desk, sat a girl leaning her head on her elbows; her shoulder-length auburn hair, cascading down, doubling as a curtain, blocking her face and eyes from view. A small book laid before her.

As if sensing my's eyes upon her, she lifted her head, showing off the young face of a girl slowly turning into a woman. She was young, I'd say about eighteen or nineteen years old with slightly golden tanned skin- two years older than me, but 'definitely not old enough to own her own business, right?' 'Who am I kidding?!Anyone could start their own business. Even a little six year old and their classical lemonade stall.'

For a minute, she had my gaze transfixed on mine, her vibrant verdant stare pinning me down where I stood. Something about me must have caught her interest cause she pushed up from the counter, pulled out an intricate-looking bookmark from inside the dresser, slid it inbetween the book pages and set it shut on the counter.

"Hello! Welcome to 'The Hidden Rune'. I am Tatianna Graves. What can I do for you, darling?"she responded calmly yet warmly.

"Hi, I am Belle. I was just curious about the bookstore. Do you mind if I looked around, maybe read some books?"

"Oh! No, not at all. Go ahead... My sister, Lydia is in the back somewhere... she SHOULD"...she yelled 'should' louder causing me to jumped back surprised. Tatianna shot me a quick apology glance as she called out her apparently mischievous little sister,"be shelving the books right now like I told her to."

"I am sure she's just lying in wait, so heads up. She likes jump-scaring people," she sighed, cautioning me.

"She's got red hair and green eyes, you'll know her when you see her."

"Okay, sure. I'll keep my eyes peeled for her," with that said I turned away and disappeared onwards between the shelves housing numerous rows of books.

I let out a sigh of relief. The only thing missing from relaxation were some piping hot chocolate chip cookies, a hot cup of berry tea and a plush soft bean bag to recline in. 'Hey. Call it boring, but I'm just that type of gal.'

As I was browsing through the books I glanced down at my jewelry bag , the bag housing my two purchases- my perfumes and my sterling rose gold and amber purchase.

The rose gold necklace, bracelet and earring set with its gems the colour of little fires . Twin cat's eyes, like my mother's. Like mine. I'd inherited my mother's bewitching eyes, but they weren't like hers. They didn't glow the same way hers did, flecked with gold specks, swirling with warmth and some energy. Powerful energy.

Without thinking, I rustled through the small jewellery bag for the braclet, which I clasped onto my wrist. The charms jingled with the movement as I rotated my wrist, examining the golden circlet encircling my wrist.

Letting out a satisfied sigh, I picked up my bags and continued my browsing. I found quite a few of my favourite books like the Cupid Match series by Lauren Palphreyman, the Arrowheart book series by Rebecca Sky and the newest book series, Light as a feather, Stiff as a board by Zoe Aarsen. I love her books so much!

It had been suggested to me by a fellow book club member, I think her name was Evelyn Tenebris or something...hmmm? Either way, I have got to say, she sure knows her paranormal stories.

I was so engrossed in my exciting read that when I heard a loud "Boo!" I didn't even flinch. I just turn the page and continued reading.

"Whoa!? Oh jeez, you're not Tia?! Oh my god, I am so sorry. I thought you were my sister who I wanted scare which saying it out loud doesn't sound like a good thing. Sorry I am rambling, aren't I? Sorry I do that when I am nervous... I'm Lydia. "

"Isabelle, call me Belle." Her eyes widen momentarily before squinting suspiciously

"Isabelle? That name sounds so familiar. Where have I heard it from?"

"Maybe I share the name of someone you know. Like a relative or an old friend of your family or something?"

"Hmm...yeah maybe...well nice to meet ya Belle. The name's Lydia. Lydia Graves and I already said my name, haven't I. Sorry, when I  meet new people I tend to ramble because I don't want to come off as boring...and God I'm rambling again, arent I..." I nodded silently, gently closing the book I'd been engrossed with.

"Whoa whoa chill...calm down. It's fine."

"Sorry I didn't let you jumpscare me by the way" I apologized, curling a strand of dark hair around my index finger.

"Nah. It's fine. No problem. I should've been working anyway...speaking of which I should probably get back to work." Shaking her red locks, she let out a sigh and turned, bending down and picked up a slightly opened carboard box I hadn't noticed by the shelves I was standing adjacent.

"Sure. Hey maybe I can help."

"Oh! No, no! You don't have to belle. I can do it on my own. It's fine!"

"It's no problem whatsoever and I insist. I don't mind. Here? You take these books and I will take those and we'll split up and get this done way faster, deal?"

"Bells...there's way more in the back as well...Are you sure?"

"Sure I am sure. C'mon let's get to work. These book won't shelve themselves." I successfully made her giggle. It was a familiar sound. Like something I grew up listening to but I just couldn't pin it.

"Not unless we use magic or something... Here, I'll take the remaining ones. You take these bunch." She joked, handing me a small stack of books with small information labels attached to their spines. I smiled as I breathed in the musky scent of paper and fresh lavender and honeysuckle in the air.

"All these books are labelled along their spines, so it shouldn't be too hard sorting them." I nodded in understanding and set off to work.

Lyds was right. It wasn't hard sorting them and shelving them in their rightful place among the bookshelves and as the silence became too deafening quiet, she suggested a game of twenty one questions.