A New Keeper

by J C Gilbert

  She cried out.

  I tried to get to her but tripped and fell hard on my side. As fast as I could, I was on my feet again, but now the shadows were closing in around me too.

  Hundreds of faceless men.

  There was nothing I could do. They had me.

  They led us back to Elaine who was again sitting on the stone chair, one leg crossed over the other. It looked like a throne.

  Something had happened to her clothes. No longer did she wear the tattered travel garments which I had grown used to seeing her in. Her dress was all folds and lace, black as the night. There was a small bird cage next to her within which was a parrot, half-starved and weak. She smiled smugly.

  “I win,” she said.

  “Elaine, what is this?”

  “This is me winning. Did I stutter?”

  “Your sister?”

  “Suits being a bird, doesn't she. Far less of a know-it-all. Hey, maybe I should turn you into a bird too?”

  “You are the sorceress? You are Vicious?” I couldn't believe it. I mean, I knew that there we had quite different views on things, but this?

  “Told you so,” said Lilly. Her voice was thin and weak, and she was dangling where she was held by the statue.

  “Do you like my friends?” asked Elaine, following my gaze. “Well, they were my friends once. I had them killed.”

  “Killed.”

  “Yes, and then I bound their immortal souls to these golems so that they can do my bidding for all time. Much more efficient than friends. Didn't you wonder why they looked so sad?”

  Their empty eye sockets were hollow and devoid of emotion.

  “Now give my friend there the book, would you?”

  “What book?”

  “I’m not an idiot. I can't see it, but I know it is there somewhere. Hand it over.”

  “I’m not giving it to you.”

  “Alex, come on. We are friends. You don't want this silly thing anyway, do you? All the responsibility of being a Keeper. It is so much of a burden.”

  My blood ran cold. “How do you know about that?”

  “My sister,” she said, striking the parrot’s cage. “This bird. She didn't know how to use what she had either. She wasted hours and hours going on silly little adventures in meaningless books, never once questioning what she could really do with the power of The Library. The power of the Library’s Heart and the void of creation is infinite. Oh yes, I know about those things, Alex. I have seen them. Every night when I close my eyes I see them again. Limitless power, and now within my grasp. Give over the book, Alex. You can come with me. There is power in you, I can sense it. You would make a fine apprentice.”

  “I’m not giving you the book.”

  Elaine looked pained by my refusal but seemed like she was trying to hide it.

  She nodded to one of the golems, and it wrenched the book from my hands. She surveyed the scene, seemingly checking all of the golems in turn. Two larger golems approached her, one carrying the book. They leaned toward each other, palms pressed against the book, creating a sort of an archway.

  I struggled against my captor’s grip. Lilly wasn't moving now. They must have hurt her pretty badly. I winced as I remembered how Lilly had warned me about Elaine. How could I have been so stupid?

  Elaine began chanting in a low monotone. “Apertum est magnum bibliothecam.”

  “What are you doing?”

  Her voice grew louder now. “Apertum est magnum bibliothecam. Apertum est magnum bibliothecam!”

  The plain filled with a warm red light. It seemed to be coming from the golems themselves. The light flowed as if on a breeze toward Elaine who then channeled it toward the statue-archway.

  Was she trying to get into The Library? What have I done?!

  Elaine’s chanting grew to a crescendo and then suddenly stopped. She walked up to the archway, her dress trailing behind her. “Open,” she said.

  Light erupted from the archway, bright and white.

  My heart sank. There before me was The Library, clear as anything. Elaine’s face was joy, pure and simple.

  “Come on, Alex, let's see what lies within.”

  I was carried forward, through the portal and into The Library. Soon light was all around me. We were in the center of The Library. The Library’s Heart spun slowly and majestically on its invisible axis.

  Lilly was carried in after me. The rest of the golems followed. They moved into a formation around The Library’s Heart. Another spell?

  “Here is all the power that there is, Alex. That's what Tabatha couldn't understand. All the power that there is, raw creation itself. It's about time a piece of that creation was in mortal hands, don’t you think?”

  “What are you going to do?”

  “Simply make an exchange. You see whatever goes in must be displaced. We will make a small sacrifice, Alex, and I will make sure I am in a position to receive what comes out.”

  The golem carrying Lilly started to walk towards The Library’s Heart.

  “Sacrifice?” my voice was quavering.

  “I was going to sacrifice you, but I actually quite like you. This one on the other hand,” she gestured towards Lilly who was just starting to stir, “the multiverse can probably do without her.”

  “You can't!” I said, tears welling up. I couldn't think straight. How could this be happening? I should be at home in my bed right now. I should be drinking hot cocoa and reading. It shouldn't have come to this.

  “You sound just like my sister. Maybe I’ll throw her in there as well.”

  The parrot squawked, but without much enthusiasm.

  “I’m going to let you watch, Alex. I think it will be good for you. It won't take long. My friends are almost all in position now.”

  The golems had formed a circle, knocking down some shelves to do so. I wondered where the Librarian could possibly be. How would she feel about all this wreckage?

  Four golems then lifted Elaine up and held her above them so that she was close to the Heart’s equator, almost touching.

  She nodded her head.

  The golem holding Lilly carried her towards the Heart. She was fully awake now and struggling.

  “Lilly!” I shouted, but it was no use. “Lilly, I’m sorry!”

  I watched helplessly as my only true friend marched toward her certain death.

  CHAPTER FORTY-NINE

  “What do you think you are doing?” bellowed the Librarian. She was standing on the upper floor, her great fists against her hips.

  She jumped.

  Elaine arched her neck upward just in time to see a 600-pound gorilla hurtling towards her. She tried to dodge, but not soon enough. The Librarian crashed into the golems, sending them skidding across the floor. They carved deep grooves into the tiles.

  “I always knew that you were bad news,” she said, towering over Elaine.

  “No! I am so close!” Elaine screeched.

  The golem dropped me and thudded forward towards the Librarian. The rest of the golems broke formation and did likewise.

  The Librarian was strong, but surely she couldn't fend off that many giant stone creatures. They were soon piling on top of her. Every so often one would fly into the air with a great thrust of a giant hairy arm and land some distance away.

  I wanted to help, but what could I do? Lilly was still being held tight. I ran towards her but was intercepted by three golems. I backed away. They stepped towards me.

  There was a rumbling quack.

  “My lady!” called a familiar voice. I spun around just in time to see Mason emerge from the portal seated on the back of Pickles, his sword flourishing. He charged forward, colliding with the golems in front of me.

  “No way!” I heard Lilly say, staring at the giant duck.

  Everything was chaos. The Librarian broke away from the center of the action and joined the duck, back to tail feather.

  “Good to see you again, Mason,” said the Librarian.

  “Just in time, sa. Wher
e is Lady Tabatha?”

  “She’s in the cage!” I yelled.

  Mason looked at me. He seemed uncertain but nodded.

  The circle of golems closed in around them, blocking them from view. Elaine was with Lilly now. She grabbed at her and Lilly struggled in vain.

  It was going to happen, and there was nothing I could do to stop it.

  Hank was destroying my insides now. I had never been so afraid. I sunk to the floor. There was only so much more of this I could take. I glanced about for Alice. The book would be nearby now that we were back in The Library.

  I grabbed it from a nearby shelf.

  By rights, I should be safely in bed. With this book, I could be in bed. It would be so easy just to open up the book and read, open up the book and escape back to my own life, warm and comfortable. I could let this be the horrible nightmare that it was. I flicked to the first chapter.

  Hank was just too powerful.

  Anger coursed through me. I threw the book to the ground. It skidded away under a shelf. Hank had made decisions for me for the last time. I took a deep breath and got to my feet.

  “Do your worst, Hank. I’ll do my best.”

  I stood tall.

  My left hand swung downward, palm forward and fingers outstretched. I felt the fire kindle. I took a step forward. My right hand swung down likewise and a second fire erupted from my palm. I took another step forward, then another. My face contorted with anger. Anger at Elaine, anger at Hank, anger at myself.

  I held my hands out front, wrists together, fingers spread. The flames collided and ignited. They burst forward like a flamethrower but with the force of a fire hydrant.

  I drew what I pretty much always drew. I liked to start with the eyes, making them fierce, capturing that cold and ancient intelligence. I then used that start to guide the position of its jaw and the shape of its head. Its torso and its legs started to emerge, now a tail. It was the final touch that always gave me the biggest thrill: its wings, unfurled and unafraid.

  CHAPTER FIFTY

  The dragon arched its neck upwards and silently roared. It flew up, then weaved and spiraled about The Library, flying high above the Library’s Heart, surveying the scene. I guided her downward, twisting and curling towards the battlefield. She collided with the first of the golems with a splash of sparks and flame.

  She then blasted through another and another, leaving behind it a trail of charred remains.

  A few of the golems tried to strike the flaming beast, but there was nothing they could do against a creature which lacked a solid form.

  “Careful around the books!” bellowed the Librarian, “we don't want a fire like the last one. I’m still upset about that.”

  I threw the dragon towards Elaine.

  The golem holding Lilly dropped her and jumped in the dragon's path, shielding Elaine from the full force of the blast.

  Lilly didn't waste any time and scampered towards me, falling over her own feet in her haste.

  I settled the dragon to rest on an upper level, surveying the scene. None of the golems were left standing now, all were a crumpled ruin.

  Elaine was scowling at me. She was still some distance away, but I could see that tears were running down her face. “I really thought I had found a friend in you,” she said. It seemed like she was trying to hold back the full intensity of the emotion she was feeling. “I really thought I could finally find peace,” she shook her head.

  “Go home, Vicious,” said the Librarian, compassion in her tone. She adjusted her spectacles.

  Elaine shot the Librarian a look. She shook her head and smiled. “I have a far better idea.”

  The Librarian’s eyes widened with sudden realization. “No!” she said, bounding forward. But she was too slow.

  Elaine waved me a final goodbye and jumped into the void of creation.

  “No!” bellowed the Librarian again.

  The Library’s Heart started to pulse. Its spherical shape was destabilizing. A fork of lightning struck a nearby shelf. Then another, then another.

  The Librarian turned suddenly about, “get away!” she yelled.

  I grabbed Lilly’s hand and pulled her back behind the nearest bookshelf. The dragon vanished out of existence.

  “Back further!” the Librarian said as she passed us. Mason waddled Pickles briskly on. He was holding the bird's cage in one hand and the reins with the other. His wooden sword was tucked under an arm.

  Lilly and I hurried after them. Another fork of lightning struck the place where we had just been standing.

  At a safe distance, the Librarian stopped to catch her breath. We watched as the storm rolled over the shelves leaving a trail of destruction in its path.

  CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE

  “What does this mean?” I asked, placing a slightly singed hand on one of the Librarian’s enormous arms.

  “You remember how I said that some books held a taint?”

  “Like Darcy’s?”

  “Yes, like your friend’s book. Well, this is worse, much much worse. That lightning is the raw energy of the void. Every book it is touching will be changed.”

  “Changed? How?”

  “Magic isn't a common thing, Alex. Only a relative few books have ever come in contact with the void and survived. My heart aches for the worlds within those pages.”

  “I could do with a little magic myself,” said Lilly, nursing a shoulder, “I hope it strikes my book.”

  “Maybe it has,” said the Librarian.

  “Cool,” said Lilly, raising her eyebrows.

  “No, girl. That would be a terrible thing. Magic can be wonderful, but it can also cause immense suffering. If I were you, I would hope my book is well away from this storm.”

  “Will the storm pass?” I asked.

  “In time, yes. And then we will have our work cut out for ourselves.”

  I gasped and fell to the floor. It felt like I was struck in the stomach, suddenly winded. The pain was immense. I cried out.

  “What's wrong?” asked Lilly, crouching by my side.

  “I think it’s the call,” I said, clutching my abdomen.

  “You poor girl,” said the Librarian.

  “Why? What does the call do?” asked Lilly.

  “Right now Alex is feeling the call of hundreds of books, all at once. She will have to read them all. The task is enormous. You will need to be strong, Keeper.”

  CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO

  “Alex! Dinner is on the table!”

  “Just a minute, Mom.”

  I pressed dial, and the phone began to ring. It was picked up.

  “Hi Uncle Jack, its Alex… Yeah, Mom did say something about that. I’m just calling to let you know that I will be busy over the summer. A lot of reading to do. What? Yeah, for school… I know, it sounded like a good deal. Yup, OK. Yup, I’ll let her know you said hi. Thanks, Uncle. Bye.”

  I was just about to go down to dinner when I saw that Jonny was standing in the doorway of my room. He gave me a funny smile and nodded.

  I frowned.

  “What are you doing there?”

  “Nothing,” he said, and ran off downstairs.

  “You don’t have to go just yet, Mason. I kind of like having you around,” said the Librarian.

  We were in The Library, and Mason was standing in front of the portal back to his world. We were not able to shut the portal down, so the Librarian moved the two golems down to a basement level where it could be locked safely away. The room was dark but for the light of our torches and the daylight from the land beyond the shimmering arch.

  The Librarian had provided Mason with new motley, and he was looking a lot better for having had a week resting within the most magnificent library that ever there was.

  Mason held a cage containing Lady Tabatha, the most recently retired Keeper of The Library. She was looking much healthier these days but was unfortunately still a parrot. In his other hand, he led Pickles by a silver harness.

  “Sorry, sa, but I mu
st. The Kingdom of Avonheim needs its ruler.”

  “Will you be able to turn her back?” I asked.

  “No idea, but we must try.”

  Pickles quacked.

  “Well if you need anything just come on through. This room will be locked, of course, but I’ll be down here from time to time.”

  “That is very kind of you, sa.”

  “Your hands are all better?” I asked.

  “As good as ever they was, sa. I am sorry for, er, blaming you, sa. Had I known you were the Keeper-”

  “-then we might have avoided a great many things,” finished the Librarian.

  Mason smiled and gave an awkward bow. “Farewell!” he said and disappeared through the portal.

  The Librarian and I took our time walking back up to the main level. With Mason gone it was time to focus on the work. “That was quite an impressive spell you cast, Alex. I only wish that it weren’t a fire spell. The books can be very sensitive to fire.”

  “Sensitive?”

  “Perhaps flammable is a better word.”

  “But what I don’t understand is how I was able to do it without the tea. Elaine said that the tea helped to tilt my mind, or something.”

  “That sounds right. Maybe your mind is just a bit angular nowadays?”

  “Maybe, but I can't seem to do anything in the flames anymore.”

  “Probably a good thing.”

  “Yeah,” I said, though I disagreed fiercely.

  We emerged into The Library’s main level. The Librarian had done a fairly good job tidying it up, but still, there were streaks of ash marking where the battle had taken place.

  Something caught my attention: a golem. “There is one still here!” I said, walking over towards it. The Librarian followed.

  “Quite inert, I think you will find. I thought about moving it, but I can’t see any harm in leaving him where he is. Looks quite stately, if you ask me.”

  “It looks terrifying.”

  The Librarian sighed. “Well, I can move it if you like. I just thought Mr. O’Connor might want to have a look at it.”