An hour later we pulled into the parking lot of what appeared to be a rundown library. We were 1 of 3 cars parked here.
"Alright, it looks bad, but it has every kind of book you can think of when it comes to the supernatural world." Logan assures me as we exit our vehicle.
"If you say so..." I mutter, trying to keep in step with their long strides.
The doors were rusty and worn, and gave a mighty creak as Liam pulled one aside for us to enter. The inside was far nicer than I had expected. There were hundreds of rows of books, vintage chandeliers on the high ceilings that looked nicely restored. The front desk was occupied by a girl that didn't quite look human. She had long fluorescent pink hair, incredibly pale skin, and was remarkably thin but in a way that made her look graceful and lithe. But what made her so unique were her eyes, where the whites should've been, they were a deep black and the irises were a sea green.
"Hello, Annabelle!" Logan said as we approached her.
"Hey, Logan." She said with a smirk. "Did you drive all this way just to say hello to me?" She leaned her chin on her knuckles with a teasing smile.
"As much as we love seeing you, unfortunately no. We need access to the private room." He whispers, even though we're the only ones here.
"The private rooms? What for?" She sat up straight, squinting her eyes at him.
"Our friend here, Liv, she needs to see something. It's very important and we'll be quick, I promise."
She stares for a minute, mulling over his request before letting out a deep sigh.
"You boys are gonna get me fired someday, I just know it!" She scolds him before smirking again. "Give me some time, I'll get you in there." She stands to leave, and I see then that she's close to Logan and Liam's height.
"Whew, that was much easier than last time!" Logan laughs, before turning to me. I must've been staring at her pretty hard, he snapped his fingers in front of my face with a chuckle.
"That, would be an elf." He smiles at my look of amazement.
"That's an elf?" My eyebrows shot up. "Does she have the ears and everything?"
"Yes, but it's not noticeable unless you're close." Liam replies.
DING.
My phone goes off, letting me know I just received a text.
Hey, are you busy? I thought maybe I could take you to dinner.
- Lex
I smiled, momentarily forgetting what I was in the middle of. This is the first time he's actually asked me out! Unless you count the time he saved me from that thug, which I didn't.
"Who is that?" Liam asked, and I raise my head to answer, shocked when I see their worried expressions.
"Lex..." I replied slowly, and their eyes go wide momentarily.
"Don't tell him you're with us!" Logan half whispers, half shouts.
"Why not?"
"Because..." He says before running a hand through his hair. It must be genetic.
"Because if he knew we asked you to get spelled, he'd literally flay us alive!" Liam snaps through gritted teeth.
"He doesn't know about this?!" I snap back, slightly alarmed.
"No, he'd never go for it. He'd say it's not necessary, that you don't need to be put through anything more than you already are." Logan says, attempting to copy his brothers tone.
"Then what do I tell him, if he asks where I am?"
"Just... tell him that you're busy, and don't say what with." Liam replies as if that's the most obvious answer.
"She can't just say that, he'll know somethings up." Logan glares at Liam.
Liam throws his arms up in defeat.
"Just be vague, but also be honest." Logan smiles sweetly.
"Great idea, why didn't I think of that..." I reply sarcastically.
I'd love that, but it might have be in a bit. Meet me at my place at 5?
I reply to Lex.
Sounds fantastic!
I sent him my address and quietly thanked God he didn't ask what I was doing. It was 2:30 in the afternoon so I had plenty of time.
**********
It was taking forever! It had already been an hour since she left to do whatever she had to in order to get us in the back. We were all sitting at a reading table, Logan was playing with his phone and Liam had fallen asleep leaning on the table. I couldn't sit still anymore. Heaving a big sigh and scooting out of my seat as quietly as possible I mouthed that I was gonna go look around to Logan, he nodded his understanding.
I began to aimlessly walk the aisles, looking for nothing in particular, just waiting for something to pop out at me.
My mom and I use to do this, just go to the library and wait for that special book to catch our eye. We both loved to read. As I got older, Trevor's girlfriend -now wife- would join us, I didn't mind it but a small part of me wished it had stayed between us. It was more special that way. recalling those memories made me think about the last time I read a book... it was almost 6 months ago. That was a sad thought.
I was lost in my mind while lightly skimming my fingers over the book bindings. Deeply inhaling the intoxicating smell that came from the pages. I rounded a corner and was shocked to see a man in the aisle. Reading from a book I couldn't make out.
I continued down the aisle slowly, occasionally glancing his way, assessing him. He hadn't come in after us, so he must've been here the whole time. But I hadn't seen him at all in the hour that we'd been here. He was tall, about 6'0, with dark brown shaggy hair that was pinned behind his ears. Caucasian with a hint of something else I couldn't place. He seemed... familiar.
I slowly made my way past him, brushing aside the feeling of familiarity.
"You look different with your hair down." I heard whispered from behind me. I stopped dead in my tracks as a chill ran down my spine. I slowly began to turn around, to see if I really heard what I thought I heard.
He was staring right at me, still holding the book and facing the bookshelf. My breathing began to quicken. I wanted to run but found myself standing still.
"Don't be scared, you're the last person I want to hurt." He said and slid the book back to it's home. What is that suppose to mean?
"I just want to talk to you." He walked up to me, towering over me, but he seemed oddly hesitant. Like he was a bit scared of me. Once he got closer, the light above me illuminated his face more. He had strong cheekbones and jaw, plump lips that were lifting into a tight smile. His eyes were a soft brown, they looked gentle. I knew those eyes.
"Wolf?" I barely whispered.
His face broke into a grin, answering my question.
"How?" Was all I could think to say, my mind swimming in so many questions.
"I'm a Shifter. That's what we do, shapeshift into a certain animal and track." He said excitedly.
I just stared at him, not knowing what to say or think. I was aware of the fact he said track, but only barely.
"Ok... who are you?" I eyed him up and down, searching my brain for a match in identity. He obviously knew me, but I didn't know him.
"You don't remember me?" He asked weakly, the look of hurt in his eyes made me feel a strange sense of guilt.
"No..." I replied, again searching my brain for some recognition. He still looked familiar, but I assumed it was because I'd seen his wolf form.
He looked down, clearly disappointed.
"Liv! Are you ready?" I heard Logan shout, which made me jump. I turned in his direction.
"Yeah, I'm coming." I shouted back.
I turned back to the man in front of me. only to find him missing.
I made my way back to the twins, running through the encounter in my head.
"Hey, are you alright?" Liam asked as I reached them I wanted to tell him about wolf boy, but I had a strong feeling I shouldn't tell them, like I needed to protect this stranger. I had never been so secretive in my life!
"Umm... I think I want to do it. I want to be spelled." Going over the conversation with the strange man, now fully comprehending that he was most likely tracking me, my mind was made up.
"Yeah? That's a relief." Logan let out a relieved sigh.
"Ok, you can't stay for long, but you can go in." Annabelle said, opening up an ancient looking door in front of us.
A small dust cloud blew into our faces, making me cough. She stepped in and hit a switch on the wall, illuminating a dark and foreboding room. There were trophy cases on every wall, each showcasing some strange looking memorabilia. In the very center of the room was another trophy case holding an old book on a stand. It looked as if the slightest breeze would blow it to dust. I walked up to it, leaning in to read the pages. The ink was old and worn, barely legible.
On the very first page was a dark and haunting poem.
In the darkness he hides, far from our sight.
When the sun does rise, and when we're covered by night.
He hears every lie, he sees every sin.
He knows what we do, he knows where we've been.
His arms are ever reaching, pulling us down.
Pauper or prince, lowly or crowned.
He does not sleep, he does not rest.
He has no mercy, he has no death.
He always comes but you can never follow or trace.
What he sees, he judges, and his eyes are in every place.
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