Chapter 14 Amick #4
“Would you like our help finding them?”
“No, I can manage.”
Recalling the list in my mind, I start in the area the first text would be. I stand alone in the aisle and a small smile crawls across my face as my finger skims the empty slot the book I sent her for is missing from.
So she’s lost.
The second and third books are gone as well and amusement begins to build inside of me. I picture her mood going one of two ways.
One, she’s having a grand time, lazily walking through these rows of books, cracking jokes with Yemi without a care in the realm about how long she’s taking.
Or two. She’s peeved and the moment she sees me, she’s going to huff her annoyance.
Either reaction will be fine with me.
“I’m so tired of this damned role. Cataloging behind careless assholes who do stupid shit like this.”
“Keep your voice down before someone hears you. Just collect the books and we’ll put them back where they go before anyone notices.”
The voices drift around the corner I’m turning and my head cocks to the side as I watch the two Attendants scramble to pick up nearly an entire row that’s on the ground.
“Someone’s already noticed. What’s going on here?”
The female Attendant shrieks, dropping the stack of books she had in her hand. A shade of flaming red takes over the face of the male who’s crouched with her.
“Rising Chancellor.” He bows his head. “I’m not sure what happened. We were walking our rounds and found the books like this.”
“Yes, it’d seem a careless asshole came through here,” I state, raising my brow.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t—”
“No need to apologize. I’d have to agree with you. Allow me.” I bend down to help them, but the book I pick up first has me freezing.
The Tiers of Creation.
The fourth book on my list.
My head swivels both ways as I take in the mess strung out and only one thing comes to mind.
Riven.
Of course.
Things have been a touch too calm the past few days despite the absolute madness of the bigger picture around us.
Yemi this morning had him whirling over the fact she called him out and I can almost guarantee this was his way of getting back at her. While simultaneously ruining my boring plans.
“Rising Chancellor?”
“One of you go find the Guider on rotation and tell them it’s my order to begin cataloging again. Don’t clean this. The person responsible will.”
I stand and without another word, starshoot to the meadows. My eyes narrow as I stomp to where Riven is standing beside Verlet and Seismet.
He turns with a ridiculous look of surprise on his face. It widens even more as I shove him in his chest.
“Why do you do this constantly? Why is your mission in life to make mine harder at every turn?”
“Amick—”
“No, Verlet, do not get in the middle of this. Answer me, Riven.”
“First of all, I don’t know what the fuck crawled up your asshole, but it wasn’t me. Second, don’t act like I make your life any harder than you make mine.”
“You don’t know? Are you serious? Own up to your taurnshit for once in your life. This never-ending game of yours is exhausting and I’ve had enough. We have enough going on without you pulling pranks that do nothing but delay me in everything I’m trying to do.”
His chaotic smirk that proved he was enjoying seeing me riled up slowly fades to a much darker look.
“I’m warning you once, Amick. Stop pushing me. I seriously don’t know what the fuck you’ve got going on right now, but you better get it under control before you say or do something you regret.”
I snatch at my roots as I try to get myself under control.
Gods, he loves this. He loves to push me.
Why? I don’t understand. What did I ever do to him?
I refuse to give him what he wants.
“Whatever. Gods, I can’t believe I had the mind to tell Kyzen…” I breathe, shaking myself out. “It doesn’t matter. Did you leave Thayla and Yemi in the Athenaeum after you messed up the books, or did you piss her off enough she went home?”
He scowls at me as his eyes begin to swirl. “Again, you know-it-all dickhead, I didn’t do shit. I haven’t seen the little burden since I left all of you in your office.”
“Amick, he is telling the truth. He has been here with us for over an hour now. What is going on?”
My head bounces between Verlet and Riven. Those two are the closest but regardless, Verlet would never lie to me. I believe he loves me equally.
“Of course, I—”
I cut Verlet off and focus fully on Riven. “You really didn’t knock that whole row of books over?”
He throws his hands in the air. “For fuck’s sake, no. Not today anyways.”
My chest constricts and I stagger back as panic grips me.
“What’s—”
I starshoot away before he can even finish his question and I immediately walk through Thayla’s bedroom door, only to find her room empty.
No thoughts come across clear as I sprint out her back door to Yemi’s.
No matter how many times I bang, no answer ever comes.
I starshoot back to the Athenaeum and run through the rows like a madman. I ignore the stares, the call of my name, everything as I search the rows for hair the color of a pink sunset.
My shoulders shake as I stand at the threshold of my office and stare at the empty space.
“Verlet, tell all my brothers to get to the house.”
My power wraps around me as realization settles on me like the weight of the realm. This starshoot lasts both forever and not long enough. My vision clouds to a dark and deadly black. The flicker of a torch lamp in my mind is the only reason I can still see.
“He’s losing his mind. I don’t know what the fuck is going on with him.”
I blink repeatedly as my focus shifts away from what’s actually our fireplace.
Not a torch lamp keeping me company.
My body doesn’t want to budge as I command it to turn and face my brothers.
“Shut up, Riven. What’s the matter, Amick?” Creed huffs.
“Thayla’s gone.”