Page 3 of Dragon Compelled
“I see most things, yes. But I do not lurk in private areas,” she adds, which only makes me even more uncomfortable. How did she know what I was thinking?
“I love Hoc,” I tell her. “He was—is—like a father to me.”
“Then I am sorry for your loss,” she replies. “I, too, have suffered a loss with his absence.”
“Do you feel it?” I question, my own curiosity taking over.
“In a way,” she explains. “I do not have emotions as you do, but it’s as if a piece of me is missing.”
“Why haven’t I seen you before?”
“I do not show myself unless a new librarian is chosen.”
“What about everything that comes next? What if I fail?”
“That’s what the council is for.”
“The council—you need to tell me how to reach them. They need to know what happened.”
“They will in due time, young librarian,” she replies. “We have more to see.” She touches my forehead again, and the scene changes.
Another dozen times, at least, I’m ripped through memories of things that Hoc has experienced over his time as head librarian. It’s like living his life through his memories. Each time has me suffering the loss that I felt the moment he was ripped through that portal.
We come to another stop, and I am overcome with impatience.
“You have to send me back. We have to look for Hoc.”
“You must see what needs to be seen before you can return,” she replies.
Frustrated, I cross my arms. “I can’t waste any more time,” I insist. “Don’t you understand? Constantine is out there!”
“You must see what needs to be seen before you can return,” she repeats.
Groaning, I turn to look in the direction she is staring. Hoc kneels before an infant, barely able to stand on her two feet yet, with tears staining her pink cheeks. Short dark hair, dark chocolate eyes…I recognize myself from an old photograph in his apartment, and I stiffen.
“Oh, sweet child, where have you come from?” he asks.
The baby lets loose a wail.
“That’s me,” I tell Athenaeum.
“Yes,” she replies. “
“But—” I face them again.
“I will call you Paige,” he replies with a smile. “Do you like it?”
The baby begins to cry, and power snaps in the air around her. Hoc’s eyes grow wide with worry, and he reaches for her as books begin to fly off the shelves, shielding the child with his large body.
Finally, the power stops. “I see we will need to protect you from yourself,” he says with a soft chuckle. “My name is Hoc,” he says softly. “And if you let me, I will help you.”
I want to scream at him, beg him to teach her rather than hide it, but before I can open my mouth, the room shifts again, and I find myself standing in the library once more, only this time, Aries, Mag, Blossom, and the gnomes are there, too.
Though they are frozen in place. Unmoving. I stare at each of them, studying Aries’s worried expression, Mag’s anger, Blossom’s grief. Then, I re-focus on Aries.
We were supposed to leave today. Start a new life far away from this place.
I look down at my tattoo. Once upon a time, it was all I wanted. To be a keeper of this place. Now, the ink feels like shackles.
