The Bard of the Bodleian (an Alex Rider fanfiction)

Chapter 2: William Shakespeare

Disclaimer: all characters and references to Alex Rider, Mission Impossible, James Bond, Narnia, Marvel and any William Shakespeare play are not our own (we're just big nerds).

Alex watched the woman leave, disappearing through a door in the corner of the room. He grappled with the opposing options, indecision momentarily paralyzing him. He could always forget what he'd seen, go to the exhibition with his class and ignore the feelings of unease in his gut. There was no guarantee that the emblem on the ring was even a scorpion, he had only glimpsed it for less than a second. This could be nothing, just stupid superstition and years of Scorpia induced trauma. It would be a much better idea just to leave this alone. But even as he thought it, Alex knew it was impossible.

"Now if you'd like to follow me, we'll head to the Shakespeare exhibition." Their guide had concluded and was leading them towards a door at the side of the room.

"Tom?," Alex questioned. Tom turned to Alex quizzically.

"What?" he asked.

"Can you cover for me? I've just got to-"

"No."

"What?"

"No, I'm not going to cover for you."

"Why?"

"Because I'm coming with you," Tom looked determined. Alex was about to argue then decided against it. Arguing with Tom would cost precious time. He needed to see where that woman was going.

"Okay," Alex knew that whatever he said would have no effect. He sighed. "I think I saw something."

They left the tour group just as it entered through the door, hoping they wouldn't be missed as people made their own way among the display cases. Doubling back, they headed to the corner of the room, and carefully pushed open the barely concealed door, slipping into the next room as quietly as possible. As they entered there was a soft noise like a door closing, but it couldn't be the one they had just come through as Tom was still holding it open. Inside, the room was empty; there wasn't another person in sight. The woman was gone.

"Ummm Alex," Tom carefully shut the door behind them, checking no one had seen the two of them slip-away, "what exactly are we doing? What did you see?"

"That woman," Alex muttered half to himself, "she came in here."

"Are you sure, mate? There's not really anyone else here..."

"I'm sure, Tom."

They fanned out, checking the rest of the room but there were no other exits, and all the windows were locked and clearly had not been used. Reaching the other side of the room, Alex's curiosity was piqued by a shelf of books against the far wall. There were scuff marks on the carpet, like something had frequently been dragged across it. As if in a trance Alex found himself stood before the bookshelves, gazing at them as if he could unlock the secrets of the universe in their pages... or maybe just a clue for whatever was going on here. It was then he saw it, a single aberration staring him in the face.

On first inspection there was nothing wrong with the book on the shelf in front of him. Its title was unmistakable and spelt out in bold, gilded lettering: Romeo and Juliet. The author's name, William Shakespeare, was clearly evident on the spine of the book, a cursive font advertising his name to passers-by. Alex had studied Shakespeare, of course he had. It was on the curriculum of pretty much every school in England, a writer with an international and historical reputation, and it was the reason his class had come here today. It wasn't the famous author's name that had drawn Alex's attention, but more the spelling.

The anomaly was less noticeable to someone simply scanning the shelves, it was only because Alex had seen the name so many times in banners and signs for the exhibition that he now recognised the mistake for what it was.

"Alex, any reason you're suddenly fascinated by Shakespeare?" Tom asked in confusion, seeing Alex looking intently at the book on the shelf before them.

"Don't you think it's a bit odd," Alex said, running his finger down the spine of the book, "that in a major library hosting an important exhibition on Shakespeare, they've decided to display a book with Shakespeare's name spelt wrong?"

Tom blinked in surprise, like a startled owl, and looked where Alex was pointing. There on the spine it said 'William Shakespaere'. Alex was sure that it would have been much more obvious if not for the cursive style of the writing, camouflaging the mistake.

He reached for the book, trying to pull it from the shelf, but was instead met with some resistance. He heard a click and the whole bookshelf twisted open revealing a spiral staircase behind.

"You've got to be joking," Tom stared in excitement. "A concealed door?! This is like a movie." Alex rolled his eyes at Tom but couldn't help but smile.

"Want to go in?" he asked.

"After you, mate."