Page 33 of Legends and Librarians
“Day after tomorrow? The boys have off for a—” A bright yellow ball rolled across the floor, stopping at William’s feet. He bent down to pick it up. “What’s this? Do you have a dog?”
Before I could even think of a lie, Cerbie raced into the room, tail wagging and eyes bright. When he saw the ball in William’s hands, he leapt toward the contractor, tongues hanging out just waiting for him to throw the ball.
It was like time stood still for a moment, as all eyes fell to Cerbie and his very obvious three heads.
“I can explain,” I said in a calming voice. “This is—”
“The hellhound!” William shouted, dropping the ball like it was on fire.
The boys’ eyes were wide. “They say it steals your soul if you look it in the eyes.”
“No, he’s not like that at all,” I said, walking over to Cerbieto pet him. “He’s a good dog, I swear. He just looks a little different.”
“Run,” William shouted, pushing the boys outside. “Don’t look back, just run.”
Their faces were white as sheets as they fled the library, as if their souls really were on the line.
“Wait!” I called out after William. “What about the windows?”
They were already halfway across the courtyard, with no sign of turning around. I stood there, gaping at them. How could anyone see Cerbie and thinkterrifying hellhound? When I looked in his adorable eyes, all I saw was love.
“You’re a good boy.” I scratched behind his ears as he leaned into my hand. “You’re not a monster.”
Cerbie licked my hands, all three heads eager for attention. I smiled, laughing as he almost knocked me over.
“Sorry,” Roan said, racing out of the supposedly closed off library wing. “He got away from me.”
“Got away from you?” I snapped. “You were supposed to be hiding them, but it sounded like you were having a party in there! It took everything I had to explain the sounds away, but now?” I sighed, standing up as Cerbie played with his ball. “There’s no way those contractors will come back, and they’ll probably warn everyone else away too.”
“That’s not entirely my fault,” Roan said. “You try and keep dozens of story spirits quiet for hours locked up in a room together. It was hopeless from the start.”
He was right. I should have planned better, should have known what time the contractors were coming and found a better way to hide the story spirits. Rushing never led to good results, but I’d been too worried about the library to slow down and think. Now the whole town would probably hear about Cerbie and the haunted library.
I felt myself smiling just a bit, mumbling, “Cerbie and the Haunted Library. Sounds like a good book.”
Cerbie nudged the ball at Roan, staring at him with big puppy dog eyes.
“Don’t look at me like that. Not again.” Roan ran his hand over his face, shoulders slumped. “We can’t play fetch right now.”
Wait. That ball hadn’t rolled out of the room on its own and Cerbie hadn’t been chasing it for no reason.
“Roan,” I said slowly, “did you, maybe, throw that ball for Cerbie?”
He shook his head. “No way. Why would I do that?”
I leaned down to pet Cerbie again, making my own puppy dog eyes at Roan.
“Not you too,” he groaned. “Okay fine, I did throw it, but the knights were the ones who pried the door open. How was I supposed to know they were claustrophobic? And the golem, man does it not like being told to be quiet.”
Roan started rambling about all the story spirits and how they were such a handful today, but all I heard was that he’d actually gotten to know them. He’d talked to them, played with them, and even worried about them. I knew I should be upset about the contractors leaving, but I couldn’t help but smile.
Roan was bonding with the story spirits. And if he could do that, then other people could too. This could still work, if I just figured out why everyone was so afraid.
“What’s that look for?” Roan asked. “I thought you’d be mad, but you look weirdly giddy instead.”
I smiled as I wrapped my arms around his strong shoulders, hugging him close. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome?” He stood there, frozen for a moment, but then his arms encircled me. “You’re kind of weird, you know that, right?”
