Page 25 of Chaos
What about Bram?
That was my primary question. He was the first patron in my five years here to be granted full access. He was also one of my prime suspects and he couldn’t be if the library system were accurate. Though I had a million questions for him and I couldn’t find him. I didn’t know if Reyson’s spell would draw Bram here because it might not involve him.
Still, I liked Bram more than I liked Dorian, but there were so many signs pointing towards him. Dorian, too for that matter. Why were there that many people outside the library who had made deals with demons when Reyson sent that magic out? And how many more would show up?
What did Hell want with Reyson? Demons were supposed to have all kinds of magic. If they wanted to summon a god forth, I was reasonably sure they could do that on their own without me. I both suspected Bram and believed he was part of my team at the same time.
All signs pointed to Hell, but my library would have kicked him out if Hell was planning a war.
That left Dorian. I wasn’t the one who tested his blood for the library card. Silvaria came in before the library was open and abused her board position to test him while I was sleeping. I never actually witnessed the test. I woke up and came down for work and Silvaria was sitting at my desk shooting the shit with Dorian.
Ididn’t know how to cheat the blood test, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t possible, and that was the entire reason I had to deal with Dorian Gray in my library. Silvaria was one of those wealthy witches who always had affairs with her pool boys. Dorian would totally be her type, even if she didn’t think that fucking book about him was the best thing ever written, and we should carry it in the library.
I had two plans in my head. One was to summon a demon and just ask. There was a particular demon I invoked when I wanted information that didn’t exist on Earth. Arzareth was a cranky bitch, but she had this thing with cherry coke. Apparently Hell didn’t have carbonated beverages. She would answer all of my questions for a few twelve packs. She’d never rat out her people if this were Hell’s doing, even if I offered her a lifetime supply.
That was my straightforward plan. The challenging project was going to be writing a spell to hack the Library of the Profane itself. Dorian and Bram were my main suspects. They both have been in the basement looking up primordial gods. Both of them had been given library cards with all access.
I gave Bram his test, and I knew the results had to be accurate, even if I didn’t understand them. That left Dorian’s test, which I didn’t witness with my own two eyes.
I already knew Silvaria would do anything for Dorian. I’d always questioned his library card, even before I found out he was a shitty lay.
I had two warlocks, a god, and a vampire here with me. I think Balthazar had a crush on Reyson or he just liked the way his blood smelled because he took little convincing to join us. All my spare rooms were getting converted to bedrooms full of hot guys fate sent to help me.
I needed to call a meeting. The library was closed for the night. I called everyone into the TV room because it had the most places to sit for everyone. I had their full attention. I could get used to this.
“I thought about summoning a demon I work with sometimes and asking her straight out if Hell had a reason to raise Reyson but if they were, she wouldn’t tell me. She trades information for cherry coke, but if she doesn’t want to answer a question, she won’t. No matter what I offer.
“Both men who were in here researching primordial gods have ties to demons. Dorian made a deal, and Bram works for one. They were both given all-access like all of you. I gave Bram the test myself, but a board member used her key to sneak in here while I was sleeping and do Dorian’s.
“One of these men might be part of this team, and the other might be starting all of this. One of the tests had to be wrong. We need to find a way to hack the magic here and see if they altered a test. I don’t know how it would be possible, but none of this shit happening right now should be possible.”
“I think you’ve already made up your mind, Ripley,” Felix said. “It’s an excellent idea, and I’ll help. All signs point to Dorian since you didn’t give him the test yourself, but I’ve dealt with demons too. They always have an agenda. They do nothing unless they get something out of it. Even if Bram wasn’t responsible for any of this, he still wants something, and he was in the basement for a reason. You can’t trust anyone from Hell.”
Balthazar just yawned.
“That’s a little racist. People say that about vampires too.”
“And my entire family because of Lucifer, especially after the whole demon thing,” Gabriel said.
Surprisingly, he knew that part of his history and I didn’t like them talking to Felix like that.
“Let’s face it. We know nothing about Hell except that demons like making deals and tricking people. Demons can be bribed for information. Bram had a very calming aura for a Hellhound. I didn’t get bad vibes off him, but that doesn’t change the fact he was one of two people researching primordial gods before that hedge witch showed up with a body. We know every single person who was involved with this made a deal with a demon. We have to look at all options, even if Bram didn’t leave a terrible impression on me.”
“My grimoire is full of blood magic,” Gabriel said. “I can dig into it and see if I can find something.”
“I started a new grimoire since mine is gone,” Felix said. “I’ve never tried to fiddle with a magical library before, but back in my day, I was fantastic with magical wards. I can fiddle with it.”
Balthazar just clapped his hands.
“My profession is not exactly legal. I can hack anything.”
Reyson was not one to be upstaged with everyone contributing.
“I could just touch the bowl and answer your question, but I might break the entire library.”
“Okay, house rules. We’re going to figure this out, but we aren’t doing anything until we are certain nothing breaks. I get you have powers none of us can comprehend, Reyson, but please don’t use them in here if it’s going to destroy anything.”
Reyson just winked at me.
