Page 30 of To Dwell in Shadows
Selene picked up the first book from the floor that caught her eye. It was an ancient-looking tome entitledMalleus Maleficarum.She immediately recognized it from a high school history unit on European witch trials. It was the infamous treatise known asHammer of Witches.
“This is a human book,” Selene said. She wiped dust from the cover and reinserted a loose page of German writing. “My god, it’s probably an original copy.”
“Probably,” Vanthee said, looking unimpressed.
Selene frowned. Although it was a gruesome text, it was hard to see an important piece of human history treated like garbage. She set the book on a nearby table then picked up another. This one was written in a non-human language with beautiful illustrations of seashells. She wiped grime from its soft cover.
“This is such a shame. How could the king and queen let all these books get so—oh!” As Selene spoke, something furry and extremely strong brushed past her hip. She looked up to see that an enormous black dog had burst through the library’s door and was now romping among the stacks.
Vanthee scrambled onto a nearby table, her face consumed with fear. “How did she get out?”
Selene blinked, surprised by her fearful reaction. The dog was happily trotting around the library, so full of excitement that she threw her head back and barked. But instead of a “woof” coming out, a blue flame shot into the air. Selene stepped back quickly, knocking over a pile of stacked books. This excited the dog even further, prompting another burst of blue flame from her mouth.
“Get out of here, Zetta! Go back to the kennels,” Vanthee shouted. She picked up a nearby book and flung it toward the dog, who interpreted it as an invitation to play. Zetta sprinted for it at fullspeed. When she came loping back with the book in her mouth, the only recognizable part was the title page—it was theMalleus Maleficarum.
Selene winced. “Really? Did you have to throwthatbook in particular?”
“Sorry,” Vanthee said, and she seemed genuine.
When the dog picked up another book and began to shake it wildly, Selene called out, “Hey, stop that! Come here. Is your name Zetta? You have to settle down.”
At the sound of Selene’s voice, Zetta rushed over. In one swift motion, she rose to her hind legs and rested her paws on Selene’s shoulders. Then she began to lick Selene’s cheek, making her laugh, even though the dog’s breath smelled like gasoline. When she ruffled her hands through the dog’s shaggy fur, she noticed it was thick in some spots but bald in others.
“What’s wrong with her coat? Is she sick?”
“I don’t know. She probably has some disease young pups get,” Vanthee replied, watching Zetta warily.
Zetta backed down from Selene and zoomed around the library once more.
“She’s just a puppy? I wonder if she has mange. Do you have vets here?” When Vanthee looked at her blankly Selene added, “Healers… specifically for animals?”
“No,” Vanthee said, as if Selene had asked something incredibly stupid. “Are you hiding meat in your dress or something? Why does she like you so much?”
“She has good taste, I guess,” Selene joked. Zetta’s powerful tail was wagging so hard it caused a tower of books to collapse. “I take it you’re not an animal lover?”
“Hellhounds are vicious. I saw one bite the nose off a demon once just for crossing its path. Another purposely set the last kennel master’s home on fire with a single bark.”
Selene frowned. “Well, this one is a sweetheart.”
Vanthee scowled as Selene scratched Zetta behind the ears, thensaid, “We need to take her back to the kennels. Ogrin will be furious that she escaped.”
Cautiously, Vanthee climbed off the table and led Selene out of the library, which was now even messier than when they’d found it. Zetta didn’t need encouragement to follow; she trotted close to Selene’s side.
The kennels were in the courtyard, inside a space that looked like a battered greenhouse. Thirteen rusty cages held dogs as black and shaggy as Zetta, only filthier. Some were chained to bolts in the stone floor, others circled their cages anxiously. A few barked at her, and Selene was surprised to see orange flames shoot from their mouths, unlike the blue ones Zetta produced.
“There’s the mongrel,” a haggard-looking demoness with long greasy hair called out as they approached.
Zetta’s jubilant attitude quickly shifted, and she dropped low to the ground, cowering behind Selene.
“She came all the way into the library,” Vanthee said.
“Did she?” Ogrin’s eyes narrowed. “I’ll deal with her later.”
“She didn’t do anything wrong—she was just curious,” Selene said, bending to soothe the dog. The other hellhounds watched her from their cages curiously.
“She needs to learn her place,” Ogrin huffed. “Hundreds of years since a Bluebite Howler pup was born, and I have to be the one to train it.” She yanked open one of the cages. “Get in there!”
Zetta dropped her body low to the ground and crawled toward the cage. Selene’s heart broke for the dog, as well as for the others who looked miserable and frightened.
