The Preternatural Shadows

Chapter V

I couldn't keep my eyes from gawking around the interior of the mega-mansion. It was so much bigger on the inside, I saw unique pieces of furnishings as we passed a few huge rooms. Every room was as spacious as one another. We walked up a set of spiral stairs and eventually stopped in front of a heavy, mahogany door. Maurice placed his thumb gently on the biometric door lock to unlock the door. Not knowing what to expect, I stepped foot into the room. To say I was only amazed would be an understatement. My jaw was hanging open, not believing what was right in front of my eyes. Row after row of neatly lined up books were arranged in order on dark wooden bookcases that towered towards the tall ceiling. Ladders leaned onto the bookshelves on the walls, which heaved under the weight of old treasures, enhancing the quiet room. My eyes squinted, as I scanned the titles of the books on each cover as fast as I could. 1820...1850...1880...1910......

"Wow," I breathed in the scent of the pages from the books as if no air would be enough.

"Say hello to the place where all your questions will be answered!" Maurice scoffed, looking very pleased. I shifted my eyes just enough to see the rest of the books behind a few bookcases, while following the group to the centre of the library. Maurice patted a seat opposite him on the forest green couch, "Sit, my dear guest."

"Your grandma told me that you love books just as much as I do, perhaps even more," he started.

"Let's not waste any of our time and get to the main point," I snorted, I wasn't here for a book club meeting or to discuss about my passion for reading.

"Watch it, Chloe Rose," Arrow warned, as he took his seat beside me and met my gaze once more.

'Chloe Rose'? Seriously? No one ever called me that.

"Chloe, have you seen anything unusual or weird recently?" asked Maurice, oblivious of my rudeness.

I don't think 'weird' was the right word... terrifying was more suitable.

"Yes, I guess so," I responded plainly.

"You've seen demons?"

"Yes." Ghosts, monsters and creatures, I guess they're all categorised under demons.

"When did you-"

"Few days ago. I've seen it twice actually, first in Cedric's Library and another in Maple Street. I don't think you would know where is it since you've got a fancy library of your own."

"First of all, Chloe, I know where is it located and in fact, I've been there a few times myself. Second of all, it's better if I tell you something about yourself which I'm guessing you still don't know yet."

"I'm sure I know myself better than anyone else."

"Do you know about your superpower?"

"Excuse me, my what?"

"Superpower, magical power, a gift, your special ability, whatever you want to call it."

"You're telling me that I'm a superhuman?"

"Or in other words, a preternatural shadow."

"Haha, very funny."

"Does it look like I'm joking?"

"It does seem like it to me."

"Seeing things with perfect clarity from afar, detecting every single smell, hearing sounds below and above the normal human range and so, so much more. Let me ask you, Chloe, if those aren't 'powers', tell me what is it then? How can you explain the sudden excellent sense of things around you?" he said all in one go, not allowing any interruption.