Page 36 of Midnight Reign
“What’s happening to me?” I ask, my voice shaking slightly.
“I don’t know,” Zephyr says, moving closer to examine me. “But I think the library is recognising you somehow.”
“You meanher,” Ignatius murmurs.
I gulp. Yeah, it’s definitely not me who is so keen to merge with this library.
The glow intensifies as I move deeper into the library, drawn by an unseen force. The others follow cautiously behind me, their eyes darting around for any sign of danger.
“Addy,” Corvus says, the warning in his tone urgent. “Maybe we should?—”
“Wait,” I interrupt, my gaze fixed on a large, ornate book resting on a pedestal ahead. “I need to see that book.”
As I get closer, the book emits a gentle, rhythmic glow that matches the illumination of my skin. I reach out, fingers brushing the ancient leather cover.
The moment I touch it, a jolt of energy courses through me. Images flood my mind - the usual flashes of battles, rituals, and faces I don’t recognise but somehow feel familiar. I see her—the ancient vampire woman wielding immense power.
“Addy!” Zephyr’s voice sounds distant, muffled. “Addy, let go!”
But I can’t. The book’s power has me in its grip, pouring knowledge into my mind faster than I can process it. I see the creation of MistHallow, the forging of alliances between supernatural races, the rise and fall of empires. And through it all, she is there, a constant presence shaping events from the shadows.
Finally, with a gasp, I wrench my hand away from the book. My knees tremble, but Ignatius is there to hold me up. His touch lingers, his expression is hard to read. “What?” I murmur, clutching my head.
“I shouldn’t be able to touch you without burning you,” he replies, perplexed.
“What do you mean?”
“Watch…” He reaches out and touches Corvus.
Corvus hisses and bares his fangs as Ignatius scorches his skin. He quickly heals and narrows his eyes at the fire elemental. “Dick.”
“Proving a point,” Ignatius responds calmly. “Look.” He takes my hand and links our fingers together. He has a glorious warmth that is welcome in this dark pit of despair we have found ourselves in.
Corvus stares at it for a long moment. “More than the average vampire.”
“Well, we already knew that,” Zaiah interrupts. “Let’s focus, guys. I want to get out of here like, yesterday. This place is giving me the serious creeps.”
Zephyr snorts. “Little djinn afraid, is he?”
Zaiah gives him the finger. “Not afraid, just cautious. I can’t access the other realm from here. Can you?” He fires the question at Zephyr, who frowns.
“No,” he mutters. “That is not good.”
“See?” Zaiah says. “So let’s speed this adventure up.”
Ignatius lets me go, and we spread out, each drawn to different sections of the library. The shelves seem to go on forever, each aisle promising new discoveries. I walk down an aisle dedicated to obscure magickal theories, apparently, my fingers trailing over leather-bound spines embossed with titles in languages I don’t recognise and can’t even sound out. The books seem to hum with power, centuries of knowledge waiting to be unlocked.
Something catches my eye, and I pause. It’s a small, unassuming book wedged between two larger volumes. It’s easy to overlook, but something about it calls to me, an energy that resonates with the power pulsing through my veins. With trembling hands, I pull it from the shelf. The leather is soft and worn, speaking of countless hands that have held it before me.
The cover is blank, but as I open it, I feel a jolt of recognition. The handwriting inside is familiar, though I can’t quite place it. The ink seems to shimmer on the page, the words almost alive. My eyes widen as I begin to read fluently in a language as dead as can be, each sentence revealing secrets I never imagined.
“Guys,” I call out, my voice shaky with excitement but severe apprehension. “I think I’ve found something. Something important.”
15
ADELAIDE
As the othersgather around me, their faces lit by the glow coming from me, I know our adventure is only just beginning. The book in my hands holds secrets - about MistHallow, about Vespers, about the ancient vampire presence in my mind. Each page promises answers, but also raises new questions.
