Page 7 of Bound By Honey

Not making eye contact, Sage shook her head. "You heard me what?" she lied.

"I heard you crying," he spoke softly but with a firm tone. "I didn't think it was a good idea to just walk up on you like that, so I was waiting to let you know I was here. When I heard the commotion, I wanted to check on you. You'll have to come out sometime, you know?"

Sage was confused. Who was this stranger to talk to her so comfortably?

She slowly stood, eyeing him cautiously as she gathered her things.

He smiled at her and nodded. "I'm glad you weren't hurt," he said.

Sage couldn't help but smile back at him. She nodded and took a deep breath before rising, trying to compose herself.

Sage felt her heart catch in her throat. The man stood in front of the exit, preventing her from leaving. She stared up into his golden eyes and swallowed hard.

"You know who I am," he said with a grin. "Tell me what my name is."

Struck by fear and confusion, Sage could only shake her head as she tried to walk past him and escape the library before she lost her job. But this man would not allow that to happen so easily.

He reached out his hand, gently touching her arm.

Sage recoiled with a whimper.

Confusion flashed across his face, and with a bow of his head, he stepped aside, allowing her to pass.

Careful not to touch him, she quickly exited into the hall, aiming for the front entrance.

"I'm sorry, Sage. I didn't mean to scare you."

She stopped, turned around, and marched back toward him. "How do you know my name?" she demanded.

The man chuckled and ran his hand through his hair. "I must look completely different during the day. So rarely do I talk to anyone anymore that I sometimes forget that most people I recognize don't know me."

No, it couldn't be! "Freddy?"

His entire face lit up. "That's me."

"But you look so different!"

"I'm guessing I'm not quite this handsome in my other form?"

"Honestly, I don't think you want to know what you actually look like during the day. Let's just say more beast than anything else and keep it at that."

Nodding his head, Freddy kept his eyes on Sage. "Ah, I see."

Sage desperately wanted to ask so many questions. But where to start?!

Freddy smiled and walked past her without saying another word. Confused, she turned around. "Where are you going?"

"The doors are locked, and enchantments to keep robbers out are up. You aren't going anywhere tonight. Let's find a more comfortable place to continue this discussion."

One last glance at the closet she had been hiding in, and she hurried to catch up.

Sage followed Freddy through the library. She assumed he would take her up the stairs and into the restricted section, the area of the library that she had always considered his home, but to her surprise, they walked to the back wall on the first floor.

The flying paper dragon and little reading nooks in the children's section had always made it one of her favorite places in the library. Why Freddy was taking her to this area utterly confused her, though.

She paused at the entrance as he approached the shelves. He reached up to the top shelf, his fingers gripping the spine of one of the books, and he removed it.

Perhaps he was grabbing something to read? The thought made her chuckle. It wasn't the idea of him reading that she found funny. She had already known that he must have had some interest in books. Why else would he work in a library? Specifically choosing a children's book seemed rather far-fetched, though.

---