Life Reader

by Shea, K. M.

“Sir, I am a page turner,” Raven dryly smiled. Saint Cloud was a sore spot for all members of the Kingdom Quest (KQ) Library League these days.

  “We have reason to believe that a rare and potentially dangerous item, a cauldron, is being housed in the library,” Gram said, leaning back in his chair.

  “I’m sorry, did you say a cauldron?” Raven said.

  “I did.”

  “How could a cauldron be dangerous? Kingdom Quest citizens don’t need a cauldron to perform magic, nor could it ever serve as a focus,” Raven said, twirling her page turner ring on her finger.

  “You are correct,” Gram agreed. “But we need to find and locate this cauldron for reasons I cannot disclose to you. You’ll have to trust us on this issue, Raven, and believe that we must recover that cauldron at any cost.”

  Raven swallowed a sputter. A cauldron was a clichéd fantasy farce—a slap in the face to Kingdom Quest citizens across the globe. Brewed potions and frightening chants weren’t necessary for magic; magic was imprinted on one’s soul.

  Kingdom Quest was a secret society devoted to protecting magic and punishing magic abusers. It was a difficult, noble calling. Surely they had more important things to do than waste valuable resources chasing after a cauldron.

  Raven stalled her thoughts and asked, “Why don’t you search the library, if it’s that important?”

  “We can’t. The library staff members are hiding behind the Freedom to Arts Library Code, which declares we can’t breech the library’s defenses without permission from the employees. The library is run by a library director, a reference librarian, a children’s librarian, a custodian, and six page turners. None of the staff at Saint Cloud will speak to us, must less allow us into the library,” Gram said.

  “But it gets worse,” he continued. “The library director, Isaac Eastgate, is a member of the influential Eastgate family. The Eastgates own several of the biggest portal painting transportation stations in America. If the library director feels we are implying he isn’t being completely honest with us… well… Eastgate, wasn’t placed in the director position solely because of his talents and skills.”

  “If that is the case I don’t see how I could possibly be of any use,” Raven said. “If I were to enter the workforce the library director has control over my every move. If you want to bypass him you would need a majority vote by the page turners or librarians to get inside. My voice alone isn’t going to make a difference.”

  Gram pulled out a large photo from his stack of papers and held it out. Raven stepped forward to take it.

  “Who are they?” Raven asked, studying the photograph. It was of six young males. They were lined up in front of a bookshelf, their faces expressing various degrees of discomfort and apathy.

  “Those are the six page turners at Saint Cloud. It was taken two years ago. You are going in there, Raven, because you are: one, the daughter of an Excubiae Comperio black dog; two, a page turner; and most importantly, three, you-are-a-girl!” Gram said, emphasizing his last words with fist pounds on the table.

  “Excuse me, sir, but I still don’t understand,” Raven said, placing the photo on the table.

  Gram growled and rubbed his eyes before turning to Raven’s father. “Brief her in.”

  When Raven’s father turned to her his eyes were no longer shadowed by parental concern. Instead he faced Raven with no expression, straight shoulders, and hands clasped behind his back. “The Saint Cloud page turners would be the easiest library employees to sway. They don’t have a high enough level of clearance to give us a definite no and they are young and inexperienced. However, they are hiding behind the influence of Daire Eastgate the IV, the prefect page turner. Director Isaac Eastgate is his uncle,” he hesitated. “Any officials that have approached the page turners have been threatened by prefect Eastgate—who claims they are attempting to turn him against his family.”

  Raven frowned and felt her disdain for the Saint Cloud employees plummet further. Bringing family political influence into the world of libraries was unforgiveable.

  Raven’s father continued. “While it was confirmed they had the cauldron we’re seeking, we don’t know if they still have it. But getting at the cauldron isn’t our only concern,” Raven’s father paused again, clearly wondering what to say next.

  “There’s been a security breech,” Gram carelessly plugged in.

  “WHAT?” Raven couldn’t hold back the yelp.

  Her father was a black dog—or an emissary if one was speaking in polite company. He was like the CIA for Kingdom Quest. A security breech could potentially bring down an entire Excubiae Comperio (EC) branch.

  “We knew we had a security breech, but we hoped the hackers only got away with encrypted data. Apparently that did not happen. Your attackers knew about the cauldron and inquired after it. Only a select group of people know about it, much less that Gram was assigning me the task of finding it. If a magic abuser squad is going after it we must find it first,” Raven’s father finished.

  “The magic abuser who attacked you last night is known as the Fox of Hades,” Gram said, sliding another photo towards Raven.

  The image was hazy, but Raven could still make out glowing, red eyes. The guy couldn’t be much older than Raven, and his hair was dark.

  “He is part of the Errësi, a group of allied magic abusers that specialize in stealing magical artifacts and using them to create mass chaos in the general public, both magical and unmagical,” Gram said. “The group has set their sights on our cauldron. They tore your house apart looking for it. One of my men said it looked like a wild beast ransacked the main floor.”

  Raven glued her eyes to the photo to avoid broadcasting her nervousness. Her ability to read things to life violated just about every law of magic she’d ever been told. It was why Raven took great pains to hide her magic. If anyone—even her parents—found out that she didn’t spin illusions like a normal page turner when she read out loud there was a chance Raven would be locked up for the rest of her life.

  Raven spoke quickly to distract the men. “Are you serious about sending me there? You do know that just about any page turner worth her ring hates the place, right? They’ve shut down all library functions with the exception of computer usage and eBook circulation. They don’t check out books at all, much less care for their collection.”

  Gram ignored her comment. “You will be involved in this mission at the lowest of levels. We just want you to confirm the location of the cauldron. Win the boys over. Tempt them to spill their guts. If they’ve got it we might be able to plead wartime magiked rights, which would allow us into the library with or without director Eastgate’s permission,” Gram said. “Any extra information you dig up is a bonus for us. By no means should you feel pressured to produce results.”

  “I’ll be working the case from a different angle, doing the bulk of the investigating and work,” Raven’s father added.

  “This still doesn’t address the main issue. I hate the Saint Cloud staff,” Raven said, clearly enunciating every word. “They have utterly ruined one of the best libraries in America.”

  Gram looked at Raven’s father.

  Raven’s father made a pained noise in the back of his throat before speaking. “Raven, honey, you’ll need to reach past those… strong emotions to complete this mission.”

  “Dad, you have always told me to stand by my convictions.”

  “Ahahah, Gram?”

  Gram shuffled the papers in front of him, ignoring the father-daughter conversation. “We need to notify Rocky and Roland, they should be involved in this case.”

  “Thank you, Gram, for all your help,” Raven’s father grumbled before clearing his throat. “Raven, this is important. What we’re asking you to do is dangerous, and borderline foolish, but we’re desperate for any lead we can find. You can do this, I believe in you.”

  Raven exhaled, her shoulders curling in defeat. “Alright. But how am I supposed to do this? Normally I don’t run with their cro
wd,” Raven said, stabbing a finger in the direction of the photo of the page turners.

  “That won’t be a problem,” Gram said, clasping his hands. “We’re going to give you, and the rest of your family, a new identity to make this work.”

  “What did you have in mind?” Raven asked.

  “I was thinking something along the lines of a preppy bombshell chick.”

  “WHAT?!”

  “Do not take such large strides. Not only are they unbecoming, but they do not allow you to put a spring in your step,” the harpy masquerading as a manners instructor said as Raven minced past her in three inch heels and a skirt.

  “I think I’m going to roll my ankle,” Raven said between clenched teeth as she took a wobbly step. She turned her head to look over her shoulder and was smacked in the face by her heavy hair—which was loaded down with extensions.

  “I’m putting more exercise sheets in your backpack. They will help strengthen your ankles, which will allow you to float instead of bobbing like a tipsy stilt walker,” the sharp eyed woman said, shoving a packet of papers inside Raven’s pink backpack.

  Raven ‘floated’ past the table where Gram’s secretary was working as her fashion coordinator with the assistance of the hairstylist that did Raven’s extensions and coloring job. Together they packed up suitcases of new clothes while referring to magazines for the newest styles.

  “Is it really smart to pack so many skirts? It’s October, and I’ll be walking to work. I’m going to freeze,” Raven said, glancing at the suitcases before carefully turning around. She exhaled in relief when her black heels did not slip on the waxed floor.

  “Oh, but that’s why we’re including these thigh high stockings!” the secretary turned fashionista smiled, indicating to a stack of folded socks. “They are totally in style according to Magic Girl Monthly,” she said, holding up a glossy magazine.

  Raven stared at her, unable to find an intelligent reply that didn’t include hysterics.

  “Shoulders back, chin up,” the harpy said, poking Raven in her lower back with a talon-like nail before wrenching Raven’s head up.

  “Now remember,” the hairstylist said, reaching out to straighten Raven’s hair as she walked past her. “I used a magic saturated dye to turn your hair this fantastic shade of copper. No amount of washing will make the color come out, so you need not fear exposure there.”

  “Of course when everyone sees that you move with the grace of a newborn hippo, you’ll probably be exposed anyway,” said the manners instructor.

  Internally, Raven had to agree. Raven’s preferred clothes generally involved jeans and flats. Her new identity, however, had a passion for skirts and dresses.

  “To the mirrors. You must remember the posture you have to mimic,” the manners instructor said, leading Raven to a row of mirrors lined up on the wall. She repositioned Raven until Raven felt she was precariously balanced with every inch of her body straining upwards.

  The hairstylist joined them at the mirrors to make notations about Raven’s new hairstyle while Gram’s secretary finished packing the clothes. “It is necessary that you make an effort with your hair for this disguise. I suggest you always curl the tips of your hair as I have done today. The effect is darling. You don’t look like yourself at all. You’re so adorable!”

  Raven winced at the backhanded compliment as she inspected her hair. Using illusion magic, Raven’s hair went from its usual cherry wood shade to the bright copper of a new penny. Her locks were twisted into loose curls, and her bangs were brushed to the side.

  Raven still had reservations about the plan. Gram essentially wanted her to be outgoing and bubbly, two things Raven was most assuredly not. (Gram claimed to have on good authority that the page turner in the secondary leadership position was a handsome, shallow idiot who would fall for girls who were equally as beautiful and stupid as he was. Raven’s makeover was designed to reflect his taste.)

  Raven frowned as she started to walk again, adjusting to the difference the heels made in her height. “I might be able to pull off a walk, but I can’t run in these,” she said, pausing to stare at her black shoes.

  “That is because you should not be running,” the manners instructor said as Gram blew into the room, carelessly throwing the door open before slamming it shut on Raven’s protesting father.

  “But I won’t be able to defend myself when I’m dressed like this,” Raven said.

  “I doubt that,” Gram snorted, sifting through a thick stack of papers as Raven’s father huffily entered the room. “You almost snapped my wrist off not an hour ago.”

  “That’s because you were shaking a set of pom poms in her face and telling her she would have to be a cheerleader. What did you call me in here for?” Raven’s father said, snarling at Gram.

  “Oh, we should wait for the rest of your family to assemble. But while I have you here…,” Gram said, trailing off to begin speaking to Raven’s father in a series of complex hand gestures.

  Raven’s father responded in turn, and Raven turned her back on them, smiling as she remembered her veto to Gram’s cheerleader plan.

  Behind her, someone whistled. “Nice, Raven. Who died and made you captain of the dance squad?”

  Raven whirled around to face her brother as he walked through the open door. His hair was a stark shade of black against his fair colored skin.

  “Don’t you think you’re going to get cold in that?” Nate asked, gesturing to Raven’s skirt before running a hand through his newly dyed hair.

  Raven narrowed her eyes and lifted her chin, fixing him with a cold glare.

  “Wow, you even have the mean girl stare down. Well done,” Nate said, clapping three times as Shina waddled after him like a duckling.

  Raven’s little sister squinted up at her before obnoxiously observing, “Wow, they made you a lot prettier. I didn’t recognize you at first.”

  Raven’s mother swept into the room with a curt, “Shina.”

  The youngest Wishmore fell silent, giving her mother her best repentant look.

  “Perfect, you’re all here. Let’s get started,” Gram said, buzzing behind Raven’s shoulder as he shooed the stylists out of the room. “And who to start with?” he said, flipping through the stack of paper. “Here we go, Shina you are miraculously reborn as Kristy. Nate, you’re now Adam,” Gram said as he passed out packets of papers. “Remember to use your cover names even in the safety of your house. You never know who may be listening.”

  “Nate, you’re still a guardian in training,” Raven’s father interrupted as Gram passed Nate his fake high school transcripts. “Gram and I agreed that we cannot afford to change your occupation this time. You will be attending training for your position,” he said.

  “Seriously? Alright!” Nate grinned, paging through his informational packet with enthusiasm.

  Raven smiled, happy for her brother. During previous undercover assignments both Raven and Nate had been forced to switch their Kingdom Quest occupations for the sake of secrecy. This was not as detrimental to Raven, who could continue her studies online, as it was for Nate, who needed combat experience and instruction.

  “Wishmore, here you go. Kevin McCellen is your new name. In light of the mission’s target we arranged for you to snag a desk job at Bakertown KQ Headquarters. Read up on your duties,” Gram said, slapping Raven’s father on the chest with a thick packet.

  “Tiffany, or as you will be called, Cora, here is all of your background information,” Gram said, continuing down the line to pass Raven’s mother her new ID cards and papers.

  He halted in front of Raven. “And last of all, Raven. You will go by the name of Rachel, or Ray for short. Obviously, you’re still a page turner,” he said, brandishing the largest packet at Raven.

  Raven swallowed as she took the packet while her father piped in, “Gram has managed to snag you some additional points, so you’re just a few steps away from being a level four desk page turner. Isn’t that exciting?”


  “No,” Raven stiffly said. She would not be bribed into this.

  “As all of you know, Raven will be working undercover,” Raven’s father continued, ignoring her frosty glare.

  “So don’t blow her ruse,” Gram said, corralling Shina at the far end of the room, giving her a new backpack to occupy her with before returning to speak with the rest of the Wishmores. “It’s dangerous enough that we’re not sending one of our actual spies on the scene, but we need a female page turner, and we can’t recruit high schooler trainees for this kind of work. We need to contain the security breech,” Gram grimaced.

  Raven’s family shifted uneasily and glanced at her, probably wondering how well she would be able to hide her personality behind the bubbly exterior Gram outlined in her briefing papers. Raven agreed that it would be hard to act dim witted all the time, but keeping her identity a secret wouldn’t be difficult. After all, she already guarded far more serious secrets from her family.

  Still…. Masking her disdain for the Saint Cloud Staff was going to be a challenge.

  “A car is waiting to take you to a transportation center,” Gram continued. “Your cat and a minimal amount of appropriate, personal items from your house will be transported as well after we test them to make sure they have not been cursed or charmed,” he smiled before turning to Raven’s father. “I look forward to your return, Wishmore,” he said, slapping him on the back.

  Raven tuned out at the sound of her father’s sheepish laugh and started paging through her informational packet. There was a section of faked background information for her to refer to: old friends, phone numbers, her favorite restaurants, etc. There was also a packet of information on Saint Cloud—blue prints, the floor layout, historic events, and its founding—and a small book that detailed the personal information of the Saint Cloud staff.

  Raven flipped through the last packet, freezing when she found an updated photograph of the teenage employees. “These are what the page turners look like now? We’re doomed!”

  Chapter 2