Guardian of Secrets (Library Jumpers, #2)

by Brenda Drake

  I covered my mouth with my hands. “Oh no, did they hurt anyone?”

  Sadness shadowed his face. “Unfortunately, there were some casualties.”

  “It’s my fault. People died because of me.” I sobbed into my hands. “I should’ve listened to Gian. I didn’t listen.”

  Arik scooted closer to me and rested his hand on my shoulder. His touch startled me, and I pulled away. “You didn’t know what would happen. You saved Gian and Bastien. You brought Royston back. We have hope to defeat the Tetrad now.”

  I glanced up at him. “I want to help.”

  “You should rest.”

  “I’m fine,” I snapped. “Don’t tell me I can’t. You’re the same as me. You would want to make it right. So don’t keep me from doing what I was born to do.”

  His deep brown eyes held my gaze for several beats of my heart. “All right. Yes. You should eat something, though, while I get you some gear.”

  “Thank you.”

  He made to get up but stopped. “Gia, we must talk about Emily. I didn’t mean to hurt you—”

  “You don’t have to say anything,” I cut him off. “I’m over it. I hope you and Emily will be happy together.”

  “About that.” He reached for my hand, and I jerked it away. A hurt expression twisted on his face again before he hid it with a smile. “It can wait.”

  I stared at the blanket, picking off little balls of white lint. “No. I’m sorry. Go ahead and tell me.”

  “I wasn’t myself.”

  I scowled at him. “Yeah, I’d say.”

  “Are you going to interject sarcasm after everything I say?”

  “No.” Maybe.

  “I literally wasn’t myself.” He stopped and frowned at me when I rolled my eyes. “I had been spelled by a witch. Your nana discovered it. She believed my actions were unusual, and was certain it was a side effect of a love charm.”

  I sat up straighter, his words processing slowly in my head.

  “Your nana enlisted Lei to search my body for any signs of a spell. Lei found a tattoo on the back of my neck”—he rubbed at the spot for emphasis—“hidden in my hairline. It was a love charm. Your nana removed it.”

  “Emily is a witch, then?”

  “Yes. Your nana found her name in the Witch Registry.” He was still rubbing at his neck.

  “How did she tattoo you without you knowing it?”

  “Your nana believes Emily drugged me first.”

  I stared blankly at him.

  He scooted across the bed and slipped his arms around me. “Oh, Gia, I was quite certain I’d lost you forever. I was a complete madman, agonizing over the thought of what dangers you faced.”

  He kissed my head, his warm breath sending shivers across my skin. A hollow feeling settled in my stomach, and I swallowed the lump forming in the back of my throat.

  His words were like daggers of betrayal cutting my heart into pieces. Images of Arik and Emily together flipped sporadically through my mind. How could Emily have done this to us? I wasn’t sure what to think. Or worse, how to feel.

  “The last memory I had was of you at practice,” he whispered into my hair. “You were so angry. I tried to run after you, but my feet wouldn’t move. I wanted to tell you something wasn’t right, but I knew not what it was. I had this intense desire to be with Emily. To do whatever she asked. It made my insides feel rotted and decayed, like a death eating me from the inside out.”

  “I will kill…,” I muttered so quietly I was surprised he could hear me.

  “She’s been punished and repented. We should feel sorry for her—”

  “She repented?” I leaned away from him and glared. “To who? To you? She ruined my life. I will never forgive her. What loser does something like that? And I will never feel sorry for her.”

  “Gia, she hasn’t ruined your life. We’re here together now.” He rested his palm on my cheek, and I shook my head against it, tears slipping from my eyes and landing on his arm.

  “Arik, I have something to tell you—”

  The door banged against the wall, and the curer plodded in, carrying a tray heavy with meats, fruit, and cheeses. The jug on the corner of the tray almost toppled over with each of her uneven steps.

  “The cook must think you need to make up for lost time,” she said. “As though you could eat a month’s worth of food in one sitting, no matter what I say. Told him it was too much.”

  Arik pressed his lips against mine and kissed me quickly. “Whatever is troubling you can wait. You should rest. I’ll return shortly with some clothes.” He bounced up and squeezed past the curer at the door. “Isn’t it a lovely day, Morta?”

  “Lovely?” she crowed. “There’s a war going on. Did you get your head clobbered? Shall I check it?”

  Arik turned before leaving. “Ah, even in the bleakest times, love shines light.” He bowed then ducked out the door.

  My heart thudded to my stomach. I should have told him about Bastien and me.

  I’m not one to starve even when things weighed on my mind. I was a stress eater. I dug into the food on the tray, shoving bite after bite into my mouth. After only consuming beast jerky and strange berries and fruits for the past month, bread and cheese tasted sinful.

  I decided to tell Arik about Bastien when he brought my gear. The sooner he knew the better. Dread settled over me, rumbling the food around in my stomach. I leaned back against the pillows, trying to figure out what I would say to him. Would he forgive me? After all, it was Emily who tore us apart.

  The door opened across the room. I set the food tray on the nightstand and smoothed my hair down.

  “What’s this?” the curer asked.

  “Delivery for the patient, ducky.” Lei continued across the curer’s area without stopping.

  “She can’t leave yet. She’s not strong enough.”

  “I’m just following orders from higher powers than you.” Lei reached my room, carrying a pile of clothes, boots, and a scabbard.

  I slumped. “Where’s Arik?”

  “Something came up. He’s organizing the Sentinels. He asked that I bring you these.” She placed the pile on the bed beside me. “How are you feeling?”

  “I’m good, thanks.”

  “Glad to have you back,” she said, her lips twisting slightly at the corners. “I’ll wait outside while you put those on.”

  My muscles were like petrified wood, every movement I made stiff and painful. I shucked off my nightgown and slipped into the black leather outfit. The boots were a little snug, but they’d do. I eased out of the windowed room and crossed the laboratory-like room.

  “Thanks, um…?” I searched my memory for the curer’s name. “Morta.”

  “You should rest,” she grumbled under her breath, not looking up as she mixed something in a big pot. “If you must go, don’t use your battle globe. It’s out of whack or something. No telling what it will do.” She dipped a ladle into the pot and poured the liquid into a metal vial. “Here.” She handed the vial to me. “If you feel weak, sip this. Just a sip, mind you, it’s powerful.”

  “Okay,” I said, examining the thick blue liquid before slipping the vial into the breast pocket of my jacket.

  She held a tin shot glass out to me. “Drink this. It’s just more of the same. It’ll get you going.”

  I took it, drank the liquid down, and grimaced at the bitter taste. “Thank you for taking care of me.”

  “It was my honor.”

  I strapped on my scabbard and trudged into the hall where Lei was leaning against the wall, waiting.

  “I didn’t think grandma would let you out to play.” She laughed and led the way down the hall.

  “Where are we going?”

  “The libraries,” she said over her shoulder. “We’ve captured the creatures from the Somnium, but we’re still tracking down the Mystik prisoners. We have some recorded disturbances in the gateways. We’ll follow all the leads. Kick some naughty Mystik bums, and return them to their righ
tful hells.”

  “Nice way to put it.”

  As we passed the education corridor, I thought of Uncle Philip. “Do you mind if I stop by Professor Attwood’s office?”

  “He’s not in. There’s a Wizard Council meeting in Couve today. He did check in on you, but you were asleep.”

  “How do you know that?”

  “I was there reading.”

  “Really, you don’t say?” my voice sounded as surprised as I was. “Aww, you care.”

  “I was on duty,” she said, rounding a corner. “Did Arik tell you what that beastly little neighbor girl did to him?”

  “Yes, he did.” I watched my feet, not wanting her to see the confusion on my face. What was I going to do? I sucked in a breath, my ribs protesting.

  She glanced back at me. “You all right?”

  “Yeah, just hurts to breathe.”

  When we arrived at the Bodleian Library, Arik was in a huddle with Demos, Kale, Jaran, and a few Sentinels I didn’t recognize. They all had their battle gear and helmets on. I clutched my helmet and the strap attached to my shield tight. The metal banged together, alerting the group that I was there. A grin split Arik’s face, and he took long strides crossing the room to me.

  When he reached me, he wrapped an arm around me and pulled me against him. His lips found mine and he gave me a passionate kiss.

  “Don’t mind us,” Demos said. “Public displays of affection aren’t at all awkward.”

  I yanked away from Arik. “Please don’t.”

  His eyebrows scrunched together, a puzzled look on his face. “What’s the matter?”

  “Listen, Arik, we have to talk.”

  “Okay, I’m listening.”

  I glanced at Lei, then Demos, and then the others. “Somewhere private.”

  The gateway book rattled on the table and everyone’s eyes shot to it. Bastien jumped out of the book, followed by the French Sentinels. He landed on the floor and surveyed the group around him before he discovered me in the crowd.

  “Why aren’t you in bed?” Bastien bounded over to me and encircled me in his arms. “I’ve missed you. I’m sorry I wasn’t there when you woke.” He kissed my forehead. “I only escorted my Sentinels in order to see you.”

  “What’s going on here?” Arik snapped.

  I untangled myself from Bastien’s arms. He kept a hold of my hand.

  “You didn’t give me the chance to tell you.” It felt like I was under a spotlight. Lei frowned at me. Demos, Kale, and Jaran’s eyes bounced from me to Arik to Bastien.

  “Wait a minute,” Demos said. “You two are together?”

  “Which two?” Kale said. “I’m confused.”

  “Gia?” Arik took a step toward me.

  I met Bastien’s gaze. His blue eyes worried around the corners. “This is only about you, Gianna,” he said. “About your feelings and what you want.”

  I nodded and willed the threatening tears away.

  “I have to return to Couve,” Bastien said to Arik. “I’ll leave my Sentinels to aid you.”

  I squeezed Bastien’s hand as a silent reassurance for him. He gently touched my cheek and gave me a warm smile before he jumped into the gateway book.

  “Arik, can we have a moment alone?” I walked down the row of bookcases, heading for a smaller reading room. The sound of Arik’s boots clapping against the floor followed me.

  Once inside, I spun around to face him. “I tried to tell you, but—”

  “But I wouldn’t let you,” he finished for me. “You and Bastien?”

  “You were with Emily. It tore me to pieces. Bastien and I got close in the Somnium. I thought we’d never return.”

  “Are you in love with him?”

  Tears pricked at the corner of my eyes. I did love Bastien, but my heart was aching for Arik, too. I stared at him, tears tumbling down my cheeks, unable to answer him. Afraid to answer him.

  “You love me. A love like ours doesn’t end. Admit it,” he said it with so much emotion it broke me and I wanted to crumble to the floor.

  “Arik—” my voice cracked over his name.

  Arik ran his fingers through his hair and studied me, tears glossing his eyes. “Oh, Gia. You do love him.”

  I took a step closer to him. “I’m so sorry.”

  A sad smile hinted on his lips. “I am, too. It’s not your fault. You weren’t aware of Emily’s devious deed. I was told how difficult it was for you to watch her and me together. But you must know it wasn’t my fault. I had no control over it.”

  A sob left my throat. “It was a living nightmare. I don’t know what to do, but I have to give him a chance.”

  “I hate to see you torn.” He hugged me and I rested my cheek against his chest. “Though this breaks my heart, I’ll step aside. For now. Bastien is an upstanding bloke, but he’s not the one you’re meant to be with. You’ll see. Our hearts are intertwined. We belong together.”

  “I’m so confused.” I sniffed.

  He petted my hair. “Follow your heart, Gia. It will lead you where you belong.”

  It was like déjà vu. Bastien had said the same thing. I couldn’t hurt him. We had survived so much together. “I have to see this through. I owe him that.”

  “Just know that you own my heart and it will not falter again.” He backed away and turned his back to me. “We have a difficult undertaking ahead of us.” He swiped his sleeve across his face. “Are you certain you’re up to it?”

  “I’ve faced worse.”

  “No one is certain what came out of the Somnium. You may discover a new worse.” He started for the other room and turned back. “And whatever you decide, I won’t blame you. I love you, Gia.” He walked away.

  I sucked in a sharp breath, unable to breathe as I watched Arik’s strong figure disappear into the shadows of the tall bookcases. I could’ve sworn I heard my heart crack in two as I sobbed into my hands.

  Chapter Twenty-eight

  Books, papers, and plaster littered the floors of the New York Public Library. The long rows of tables lay on their sides, lamps crushed under their weight. Arik slid his sword out of his scabbard. I did the same with mine and held it out in front of me. Sweat slicked my palm, making it hard to hold on to my shield. Whoever’s helmet I wore didn’t fit me. The eagle head rocked and pressed against my nose with every movement.

  “What came through here?” Kale stepped over a broken chair, the blades in his gloves fully extended, the silver visor of his helmet shading his face.

  “One of those beasts from the Somnium,” Arik answered, peering at me through the eyeholes of his helmet. With each tilt of his head, the wings on the side glinted against what little light emitted from dimmers surrounding the room. “We killed it over there.”

  My eyes went to the spot. The dried blood still stained the floor. “Why haven’t the Cleaners been here?”

  “There aren’t enough of them to clean up all the attacks,” Arik said. “They’ve abandoned the effort. News reports have already covered the mayhem. The Cleaners are just disposing of all evidence of the creatures. Our leaders spread a rumor over social media to the humans that the attacks are from a terrorist group, and they’ve urged people to stay inside.”

  We moved down an open row between the desks, circling to make sure each direction was clear.

  “It went viral?”

  “Yeah,” Kale said. “We’re using fear tactics to keep people away from the libraries we haven’t gained control over. The thing is we haven’t found many escaped prisoners. It’s as if they all vanished. Possibly hiding somewhere. Some say they were eaten by the beasts. When you blew the traps, most of the Monitors died. There were so many jumps when the incident happened, they tangled together and couldn’t be read.”

  My gut knotted. “Pip?”

  “He survived,” Arik said.

  I frowned. It just kept getting better. Now I was responsible for killing Monitors. “So what are we doing here?” I said.

  “Pip picked up a p
risoner’s jump into this library nearly fifteen minutes ago.” Arik inched forward, moving his head left to right, readied for an attack.

  “How do they know it was a prisoner?” I said.

  Arik stopped. “Before incarceration into the Somnium, a chip is implanted that tells the Monitors they’re prisoners.”

  Something chimed above our heads. A man wearing a tan trench coat, water goggles, and heavy boots, with yellow skin and small leathery wings, balanced on one of the large chandeliers. He had an arm wrapped around the chains holding the light fixture to the ceiling.

  “What is that?” I practically spit out.

  “It’s a Malailes,” Kale said. “They’re extinct. We’ve found many escaped species that were believed extinct.”

  “All right, enough with the history lesson.” Arik aimed his sword at the thing, which totally pissed the creature off.

  The Malailes dove off the chandelier and flew around the room.

  “Kale, go left,” Arik barked. “Gia, right.” He rushed down the middle row, chasing after the creature.

  I found a gap on the right side of the desks and dashed down it, hurtling chairs and other items out of my way as I went. At the end, I squeezed through a double door that had been left ajar. It led to a small gift shop, with displays and a counter off to the side. Directly in front of me, the Malailes was perched on a balcony railing.

  “Et nolo pati ut noceret,” the creature’s voice grated against my bones.

  “Sorry, no comprende, dude,” I said and crept closer. “Come on. If you come quietly, I won’t hurt you.”

  His bloody, beady eyes watched me intently. “Alium gressum… et occurret vobis cultro.”

  “Gesundheit.” I took another step. What the hell is he saying? Is that Latin?

  He swooped down, tackling me to the floor and then straddling me. My sword flew from my hand. Gia, don’t harm him, Athela’s voice sounded in my head. He is a friend. His name is Cadby. Royston’s guard.

  What the hell? How are you in my head? Out here?

  I’m not certain. Her thoughts were soft, as if she was miles away. I think it happened when you tossed your globe at that trap.

  Sure, I thought. That makes so much sense.