To Be Determined

Chapter Seven: The Library

The large grey building up ahead was daunting despite its stillness, a stark contrast to the oppressive thicket of woods that we wandered antecedently. Asha leads the way to a large pair of steel doors, more Alcatraz-esuqe than a cozy public library in the city. He knocks on the door with a son clave rhythm. He tries the handle and the door opens without a sound.

"Hello?" Asha asks, calling out into the empty, fluorescently lit room. He moves cautiously forward, a stark contrast to the long and flowing strides that I had become accustomed to in the miles between Leone and the library.

We heard a voice from down a hallway ahead of us. "I will be right there. Who may this be?"

"My name is Asha Saris, I was sent here by Desdemona Leone."

"That's a name that I haven't heard in a lifetime." A man walks out with five thick books stacked in his short arms. He places them on the counter with a smile. Nicoloj wears a warm yellow sweater and tight pants. Round glasses similar to mine complement his light brown eyes. He looks surprisingly young, in his mid-twenties perhaps, although I know that it is a side effect of his vampirism. He is not as offensively pale as the man on the trail with a skin color similar to Asha and me. He has a light, airy energy to him. "How has DiDi been lately?"

"She's been wonderful! The Monkshood in her garden has been blooming beautifully; She is quite excited for the harvest." Asha leans on the counter, rummaging into the bag, looking for Momma's note.

"Ah, are the creatures particularly bad this year?" Nicolaj asks dusting off the front cover of the top book. The title does not appear to be in English, it appears to be an entirely different language system altogether.

"Fortunately there has only been one attack. Speaking of which, I believe introductions are in order. Nicolaj this is to my sister, Professor Olyvia Saris, and her husband, Doctor Iliad Dobrzycki. Ah, here it is." Asha fishes out the note and slides it to the man.

"Ah, always a pleasure to meet a fellow academic. What do you teach?" Nicolaj asks, giving me his full attention. He slides the note under his elbow.

"Quite a variety of things. Typically I rotate between immunology, hematology, and biological chemistry. I dabble in disease ecology research during weekends and holiday breaks." I swear I've given this speech a thousand times. Usually, people smile and nod, not understanding what I'm talking about. Usually, it's Iliad that's the star of the show. People understand the caring hands of doctors more than the science behind the scenes.

"Hematology has always had a soft spot in my heart, as cliché as that may seem. You will have to teach me something that I don't know before you leave." Nicolaj winks at me. "How about you Doctor, do you specialize in anything?"

Iliad smiles and leans a shoulder on the counter. I can't help but feel like he has been neglected with all of the craziness in the last couple of days. "Ah, not really. I am a general practitioner at a clinic for lower-income residents. Most of the time that keeps me busy. I do enjoy occasionally assisting Liv with her research though."

"That is a noble occupation. It takes a special person to go into medicine without expecting much compensation."

"I feel like it's my civic duty to give back to the people that need it the most." Iliad does a little curtsy.

"So how may I be of assistance?" Nicolaj asks, opening the note and skimming.

"Ah, yes. Over the last couple of days, Olive here has begun experiencing some spontaneous bursts of magical energy. We suspect that there are factors. You know, being around magicians, bonding with her familiar, a few near-death experiences, a possible possession, typical Tuesday type of jazz. We still don't know why it's happening." Tine slithers up around Asha's torso and settles around his shoulders in a natural position as he speaks.