Page 18 of Chaos
She was frowning like she didn’t think I deserved it, and I was just done taking crap about my last name. Clearly, I’d done something right because I got approved for this fucking library card.
“You don’t have to be a bitch to me because of my last name. It was five hundred years ago.”
“What? No. I think the level of shunning that goes on in the magical community is fucking stupid. It’s super rare that anyone gets approved for all areas, especially witches and warlocks. When I got hired, they commented it was rare for me to have access, and I rarely see it when people apply. It seems to happen a lot lately, and I don’t know why. You must be a hell of a warlock.”
Well, shit. That had to mean something, but I didn’t know what. This was the least judgemental witch I’d ever met in my entire life. I was sure the magic in the bowl would have told her my family name. She didn’t care, and she even complimented me.
“I need books on tarot,” I said.
“We have a ton of books on those, or I can read your cards and see if it gives clarity to the reading you had.”
I was sure this witch had the best education in the world. It wouldn’t shock me if she were an Academy of the Profane graduate. Profane, Massachusetts, was better known as Salem to the rest of the world. The supernaturals called it Profane because of the atrocities that had been done to witches there. They reclaimed it and set up the Profane world. The library, the museum, and the Academy were all here.
Still, it wouldn’t hurt to have her try. I needed all the help I could get. I could just feel it in my gut that the spread I read was significant. I stuck my hand out. She could take it, or she could look her nose down at me. I didn’t care.
“Gabriel Morningstar. I’d be happy for you to help.”
Oh! That was new. She knew my last name, and she slipped her hand into mine, anyway. She gave me a coy smile.
“Ripley Bell.”
I was about to say something when an absolutely enormous man was up in my face sniffing me. I usually would have punched anyone in the face and cursed them for that, but I just got this vibe off him he was dangerous.
“Um, Ripley?” I asked as his intense silver eyes bore into mine.
He placed his hand on my head and inhaled. I couldn’t help it. I didn’t want to, but I fell to my knees. What the fuck was going on? She wasn’t kicking him out of the library. She was looking at me curiously.
“This one is important. Keep him close,” he said before leaving as quickly as he disappeared.
Ripley was looking at me in total awe. What just happened? She helped me to my feet.
“Come with me. I have a feeling this is the most important tarot reading I’ve ever done.”
All I could think waswhat.the.fuckas I followed her through the library.
Chapter 17
Ripley
D
id Gabriel think all the venom thrown at his family was because of something that happened five hundred years ago? It was way longer than that. I could show him some books on the Morningstar name. Yes,thatMorningstar. Gabriel was a descendant of Lucifer Morningstar. I wondered if he knew that.
He certainly looked like one of his ancestors was an angel. He had his long blond hair pulled back into a bun, and he had these fantastic, crystal clear green eyes. I didn’t know what Chaos was doing when he came over, but he was a god. If he said Gabriel was important, then I believed him.
I left Felix at my desk in case someone needed help and brought Gabriel to the scrying room. I didn’t always read cards in here, but I just had this feeling if he came all the way here with his family history because of a spread, then it was going to be important.
I waved my hand and lit the candles and incense in the room. His familiar was coiled around his neck with its tongue flickering out, scenting the air. The snake was pure white with red eyes. I wasn’t afraid of snakes at all and thought it was beautiful.
“Your familiar is lovely.”
Gabriel held out his hand so the snake could wrap around his wrist.
“Thanks, but you are going to give Orion a fat head.”
“Felix already has one.”
When we watched Doctor Who, Felix started purring in his human form when he was enjoying his fish and chips and then later when he fell asleep on the sectional. It was adorable as fuck and I don’t even think he realized he was doing it.
