Chapter 15 #2
The Bauers’ main library is a sight to behold.
The main foyer is like a tall tower that exposes the four stories of stacks of books with a glittering gilded railing.
Each floor has its own arching, spiral staircases in polished marble, the ends of which are marked with statues of different magical creatures.
The stacks on each floor are taller than even my own shop’s, giving the visitor an awe-filled shadowing effect.
It’s where I got the inspiration for my maze.
I breathe in the papery scent, ancient magic tingling my senses.
My heart soars and my smile turns genuine. It’s been so long since I’ve been in this masterpiece.
I tuck my skirt’s edge into my belt to keep the hemline above my ankles.
My right thigh is scandalously exposed with each step, but at least I’m no longer tripping over it.
I trot through the mosaic foyer and spin with the wave of euphoria that surges within my chest. I laugh softly, the skirts tangling my legs for a moment before releasing, “Oh fuck, I’ve missed this place. ”
I could flex my power and summon the books like I do with my shop, but Jinx would warn me to conserve my energy; I’m inclined to agree. Besides, running through the stacks, my fingers tingling with the magic of such powerful texts is exactly what I need after such a long week.
My cheeks hurt from my smile and I turn to call back to the two men still in the entryway, “Come on! Time is of the essence.”
Valen’s gaze is soft, a small smile curling his lips as he watches me with his hands in his pockets.
I tuck an escaped strand of hair behind my ear, dropping my gaze with a flush, before flicking my eyes to Lucas.
He smiles, his joy compounding with my own.
I draw in an elated breath and my smile widens.
I hold my hand out to him. “What’s wrong?
The great thief of Delornia overwhelmed by such a place? ”
He laughs and crosses the foyer to me. “Fuck, no. I’m just marveling at you in a dress.”
He scoops me up in his arms and I squeal laughter when he spins me, my skirts fluttering around us. My arms tighten around his neck. “Stop! I’ll get dizzy.”
“Like you’re not already dizzy from the raging hard-on you have for this place.”
I smack him before tilting my head back and stretching my arms out. I let my eyes close to better enjoy this fleeting moment of delight. All the worries and stresses of the world evaporate away and I can breathe freely for the first time in days.
All too soon, Lucas comes to a stop and swivels on his heel to look around. “Alright, which way?”
“Put me down. I can walk,” I laugh.
“Nope! I’ve caught you, so I get you.”
I scream when he tosses me over his shoulder. I clutch my chest to keep from spilling out of the tight corset. “Wait! I’m going to be tits out if you carry me like this.”
Cool fingers tickle under my chin and I look up. Valen’s lips are suddenly too close, his cologne flooding my senses. I exhale when he smirks, his lips tickling mine. “It wouldn’t be the first time.”
I tremble all over, my head tilting, but he steps by me to clap Lucas on the other shoulder. “Finally, a use for you. This way, magician. Do try to keep up. I’d hate for you to get lost and be eaten by a stray grimoire.”
My feet hit the ground and I clutch Lucas’ bicep to keep steady while my head spins. Lucas growls low for just me to hear, “Are you only attracted to assholes?”
Valen’s retort floats through the stack he entered, “Definitely not, or else she would’ve fucked you already.”
Lucas’ jaw drops and I roll my eyes. So much for an enjoyable library experience. “Can the two of you at least try to get along while we’re teamed up?”
They both answer in unison.
“With that blueblood asshole? Absolutely fucking not.”
“I’d rather converse with a maggot. It’d be more stimulating.”
“Eat my ass, weaver!” Lucas snaps.
“Begging is a good start. Keep going and maybe I’ll allow you to choke on my cock.”
I scrub my face. “Lovely. No regrets at all about this agreement.”
Lucas and Valen’s bickering soon grows old and I do my best to tune them out, focusing on the stacks, the books my fingers trail along, and the glory of the magic in this place. I try humming, anything to drown out the stupid pissing contest.
Finally, I reach the section I’ve been hunting for and grab one of the rolling ladders. I drag it over and quickly ascend it, mumbling to myself as I go, “Bestiary… bestiary. Okay, here we are.”
Lucas barks a loud, unkind laugh. “Are you fucking me? You wish—”
My teeth grind and I try talking to myself louder. “Desert varieties. Where are the region sections?”
“Jealous, magician?” I nearly crack a tooth when Valen’s sneer slices through my concentration. “I would be. The things I know, you wouldn’t stand a chance—”
I go down a step. “Maybe I’ll try searching by author. Hey!” I call down to the idiots on the ground, “Who is that one famous pre-Ascension menagerie collector? The one that funded the Yrin expeditions?”
“Yosef Lazzoure.” They both answer and then glower at each other.
Lucas steps up into Valen’s space and I gulp. Uh-oh. He pokes Valen’s chest hard with a ringed finger. “I don’t need practice. You don’t understand what we have. You’ll never understand.”
I sigh loudly and scrape my hand down my face. “Will you two shut up? I’m trying to think!”
They ignore me and I roll my eyes, head falling back. “For the mercy of the nonexistent arachnid gods, spare me this punishment. I beg of you.”
Valen laughs, “Poor magician. Doesn’t want to put action to his big words.”
I growl and use the edge of the shelf to drag the ladder farther away from them. “L… L… where is L. Knorf. Okay, getting closer… Lang…”
Lucas growls, “She’ll never agree.”
My eyes light. Lazzoure! There it is. The book’s spine snaps at my fingers and I smack it with the back of my hand, magic sparking in threat. I growl loud enough for the other books to hear in case they get any ideas, “Don’t you dare. I am not afraid of a challenge.”
Valen huffs a laugh, “I told you. How about it? A little contest before facing the sphinx?”
This time when I reach for the book, the spine shudders and keeps its sharp teeth to itself. I hook my arm around the ladder and prop on a step. “Alright, let’s see what you’ve got.”
I flip through the pages until I get to the sphinx.
The head of a woman, body of a lion, and wings of a bird; they come in various sizes and strengths.
I doubt Vincentius will use anything that isn’t the biggest and baddest out there.
My finger slides down the diagrams. A pity this wasn’t post-Ascension.
It could tell me if there’s any kind of Soul Thread, but weavers weren’t as interested in magical creatures as the priests were.
Even familiars, who do have threads that are wound with a weaver’s, are barely talked about.
My finger pauses on ‘psychic attack’ and I carefully read the passage.
Though commonly believed to be immune to psychic attacks, it is specifically the illusion that the sphinx is immune to.
They have the innate ability to see through any enchantment or trickery of the mind.
That, combined with their enhanced senses, makes them formidable guardians and favorites among high priestesses.
Often seen guarding their sanctums and tombs…
I stop reading and purse my lips. Does that mean Lucas couldn’t put her to sleep?
Perhaps the real question is if putting the sphinx to sleep is considered an ‘illusion’ or not.
Conjuring night terrors or inducing sleep paralysis definitely wouldn’t work.
I chew on the inside of my cheek. Hypnosis might be riding the line a little too much.
The sphinx might be more resilient towards it because it’s immune to mind tricks.
What we would need is something that isn’t conjuring a falsehood, but creating a real, physical effect, like hypnokinesis would.
The manipulation of sleep patterns is a physical type of magic that releases a true sleep within the brain instead of tricking the mind into falling asleep.
To know for sure, I’d have to run up two flights of stairs to find a text of theoretical magic, but that would take time we do not have. We might have to wing it and see.
Worse comes to worse, we’ll use Valen as a hostage. I’ll keep that backup plan to myself. I doubt he’d see the logic behind it.
Valen calls up to me, “Astoria, my dear, do you consent to settling this little debate?”
I sigh hard and slip the book back into its place. “Fine, but you better make it worth my time!” I’ll do just about anything to make the bickering stop. The sphinx won’t stay asleep if they can’t shut up for more than five seconds.
I climb down the ladder while Valen answers, “I swear, I’ll make it well worth it.”
There’s a mischievous lilt to Valen’s tone that sets me on edge. Maybe I should’ve confirmed what they want to settle before agreeing.
The moment my left foot touches the ground, Valen pulls me into his hold.
I yelp, my right foot still elevated on the ladder step, my leg fully exposed from where I tucked my skirt into my belt.
My back presses flush to Valen’s front, my hands reaching back to clutch his slacks.
His hands slide up my sides possessively and my body shivers awake when he breathes against my exposed neck, “You’re such a good girl, Astoria.
Now show the magician how well you come for me. ”
My eyes flare and lock with Lucas’. He leans against the opposite stack, his arms crossed over his chest, his expression unreadable. But his eyes. There’s a heat in them that has my core clenching.
“Valen—” But my former lover presses two fingers to my lips and I can no longer remember what I was going to say.