Depthless: Under The Library

Chapter Twelve// Stella

Stella’s POV 

“So, tough first day, huh?” David smiles at me over his turkey sandwich. I nod half-heartedly, and return to taking tiny bites of my bagel. The sweetness from the bread helps relax me, and somehow, David’s presence helps soothe my nerves.

After the weird encounter with Kale and Alex, I spun around to find David waiting for me. I was a little grateful… and extremely glad that he’d stayed to wait for me, even though he claims he only did it cuz it’s technically my first day, and he wanted to show me the ropes.

So far, he had helped take my mind away from the horrors of the past hour, where I swear I had felt an unusual shifting inside me. All that talk only served to ignite my curiosity… and somehow, along with that, came different powers… powers that almost overwhelmed me. I shudder, taking a long sip from my power drink.

“Care to enlighten me on what you guys were so ‘happily’ chatting about just now?” David tilts his head. His drums his fingers on the cool marble table of the dining hall. I shrug. “Nothing really important, really.” I lied.

David lifts an eyebrow. “Starre, you may fool him, but nothing escapes my knowledge. A guy like him doesn’t normally take a casual stroll up to some random new girl and request a private conversation!” the more David talks, I note that his face starts flushing up, and he uses his hands a lot. I feel a smile tugging on my lips, and I duck under my hair, suddenly feeling shy.

“We… we just worked some things out.” I mumble.

“Really, Starre? I know you longer than him, and you are willing to talk to him over me?” David looks hurt. I giggle, mainly because he looks kind of cute when he takes on a wounded expression. Also, he proved to be extremely charming when he’s not on duty.

“I’m sorry, but it’s not something you could… understand.” I drop my gaze at the last word. I hear him pretend to get all huffy, and I roll my eyes.

“Fine.” He sighs, exasperated, dragging the i.

I munch on the remaining of my bagel, whilst he finished his sandwich, and just leans back in his chair, staring off into space.

I look around the dining hall. It’s a vast room, about two levels below ground. The dining hall looks like a cave. No, seriously--- it is a cave, all hollowed out and dark. Rocky walls stretched out around a vast space. Being a cave, the temperature here is kept cool at all times, and warm when it’s cold outside. The ground itself is, well… rough ground--- rocks and sand. You had to be careful where you place your footing, lest you end up stumbling all over in the dim light.

All around the walls, torches lined the walls at five foot intervals. These are the kind of torches I’d seen in an old time movie, something about pirates and treasure caves. Imagine a cave. Then, imagine those cone shape things people hold, where you could light a fire and call it a torch. Well, torches like those flank the walls all around. I don’t know where they get the fuel from, but it sure doesn’t seem to burn out the whole time we’re there. If it wasn’t torch-light, it’s candle light. The librarians sure know their romantic dining setting!

 All over the rocky floor, wooden tables were set up, not really in any particular order. These tables had patterns carved in them, so they are tables with, like, holes. Someone had draped a plain white table cloth over the tables, and installed some lights below the table. Now… we’re looking at a table with lighted patterns. Beautiful.

I sigh happily, not growing tired of this place. In my peripheral vision, I spy David staring my way, but I didn’t dare look back. For the moment, I was just contended with gazing at my surroundings.