Chapter 8

For the next two days, I spent most of my time in the library along with Abbie, Maggie, and Lacey, researching magic absorption.

Abbie was in charge of skimming through the books and selecting the ones we should look into, and Maggie was the one reading the selected ones making sure to leave bookmarks on any passage of interest, while Lacey and I set aside the discarded ones, and brought more books to the table.

This morning, we finally started gathering the books about dragons.

At this rate, I would recover my magic next year, which was much better than never, so I didn't complain.

In the mornings, Abbie gave lessons to Gwen, Britt, and Trent, and later in the day, she checked on those. In the afternoon, Gwen and Britt sometimes showed up and wanted to help, but Trent spent most of his time with their grandmother.

I had had lunch and dinner with the family a handful of times now, and Magnus continued to puzzle me. He looked at me and Lacey as if we were bugs, but he was kind to his family—most of the time. Sometimes, he complained they were too loud, or too happy, or should change the subject.

So far, I had deduced Magnus was a sensitive warlock.

At night, I stayed in the library and researched about bonds and ways to break them. But I thought the library, or the entire hall, was still playing with me. Abbie had given me a brief list of books about bonds, saying that was enough to get me started, and every time I went to look for a book, I found the half inch to one inch space between other books where it should have been, but there was nothing.

No books.

Once, I asked Maggie about it. She got the list from me and retrieved three books in minutes. "They were all there," she said. She set down the books on the table and turned back to her task.

I thanked her but when I went to grab the books, they were gone.

"I think the hall is telling you to focus on one thing at a time," Lacey said.

It seemed that way, though that irritated me even more. Why couldn't I do both? I was focusing on the most important thing: I spent nine to ten hours of my day researching my magic, and one on the bond. Wasn't that enough?

I grabbed four other books about dragons from the shelves and stopped by one that supposedly explained the difference between bonds, how they came to be, and if they were breakable or not.

As usual, the book was missing.

With a sigh, I walked to the tables and dropped the heavy books. I sat down beside Maggie as she slid her fingers across the page and picked up a bookmark.

"Something interesting?" I asked.

She nodded, placed the bookmark in the book, and put it on the to-be-studied-later pile. "This book says there are distinct kinds of magic absorption. It can be partial or full, and it also differs according to the type of supernaturals. I'm not sure it'll explain what happens when a higher demon takes magic from an angel, but there's only one way to know."

I knew what happened. The angel became human, weak and useless in her world.

A phone dinged and Lacey grabbed her cell from her pocket. She looked at the screen, then at me, then typed something.

"What is it?" I asked, already annoyed.

"Nothing." She tucked her phone away.

"Lacey, was that Levi?"

"Yes." She pouted. "He was just checking in."

"Asking if I'm all right." Of course, he wanted me to be all right. If I wasn't, he would hurt, literally. She nodded. Damn, I would have to have a conversation about boundaries with him. "When is he coming back?"

"He doesn't know," she said. "He went out to—" Lacey pressed her lips tight, which made me think of the worst.

"Torture an innocent soul? Take advantage of weak supernaturals? Steal the candy of children?"

"Ariella," she said with a sigh.

"What? Just because he did one or two good things in his entire life, doesn't mean he isn't evil."

"It's the opposite." Lacey's voice turned sour. "Just because he did a couple" —I raised my eyebrows— "all right, several bad things, doesn't mean he's evil."

"You know the phrase innocent until proven guilty? I prefer guilty until proven innocent with him. And so far, he hasn't wanted to prove his innocence."

"Ariella." Abbie looked up from the books spread before her. "Can we drop this subject?"

Shit, I had been so worked up, I had offended my host. "Sorry, I can't seem to let it go."

"I—"

"You have a visitor."

I almost jumped out of my chair when Myg's voice echoed through the library.

"Are we expecting anyone?" Maggie asked.

Abbie shook her head. "It might be one of our regular clients." She gestured to Myg. "Bring him in."

Myg walked around the large tree, and in ten seconds, walked back with three figures behind her—an old witch and two males, though I had no idea what they were.

"Mrs. Dennis." Abbie stood and smiled at the witch. "It's so good to see you. How are you? And Mr. Twitches?"

"I'm fine, dear, and Mr. Twitches is energetic and spoiled as always."

Abbie's eyes hardened as she took in the other two people. "You brought friends."

"Oh, yes." Mrs. Dennis beckoned the man forward. "This is Elias and Eugene. I thought you could help them."

Abbie shifted her weight. I could see she wasn't comfortable with that. "Hi, Elias and Eugene. I'm Abigail Evermore, the owner and protector of the Grand Eternity Hall."

"I'm Elias," the oldest said. He was in his late twenties, but guessing ages was tricky with supernaturals. "And this is my brother, Eugene."

"It's nice to meet you, Abigail, " Eugene said. He had cropped hair and a short beard, and he was almost as tall as Levi, but a lot less menacing.

"How can I help you?" Abbie asked.

Elias glanced at the witch and she nodded her chin encouragingly.

He fished a bunched cloth from the pocket of his jacket. He unfolded it and showed us the beautiful necklace lying in the cloth. "This has been in my family for generations, and I believe it's cursed."

Abbie approached him. "What do you mean?"

"All the women in my family who have worn this necklace have died in childbirth." He gulped. "The latest was my wife and my son died a few days later."

My heart squeezed.

"I'm so sorry." Abbie pressed a hand to her chest. "Was your wife a lion shifter like you?"

He was a lion shifter. Interesting.

He nodded. "Her family was close to mine. But now …"

Abbie reached for the necklace. "Do you mind if I examine it?"

He pulled back. "Don't touch it! I can't guarantee what happens if you do. I'm guessing the curse affects females who wear it but I would rather not test it."

"And what do you want us to do, then?"

"I want to get rid of it, but I can't destroy it, and I shouldn't throw it away and risk having another person finding it. That was when Mrs. Dennis told me about you. She said you have a secure safe for these kinds of objects."

"That is true." Abbie seemed intrigued.

Besides, Maggie was already moving. She retrieved a tray from under the table and went to them.

"You can put it here," Maggie said. "We promise not to touch it."

"Though, while we keep it safe, would you mind if I studied it?" Abbie asked. I could see this excited her.

"As long as you don't touch it." Elias dropped the cloth and necklace on the tray.

"I promise." She nodded at Maggie, who carried the tray to a distant corner of the long tables.

"Thank you, dear," Mrs. Dennis said. "You're as kind and helpful as usual."

"Is there anything else we can help with?" Abbie asked.

"I brought something for your grandmother." Mrs. Dennis got a small package from inside her purse. "It's her favorite candy. Would you mind if I give it to her?"

Abbie pressed her lips into a thin line. "You know what, it's almost suppertime. If you don't have any plans, why don't you all stay and dine with us? Then you can give the candy to Grandma."

Mrs. Dennis, Elias, and Eugene exchanged glances. She looked nervous but nodded and Elias smiled. "That would be our pleasure."

* * *

I leaned against the windowsill and looked out at the vast forest beyond. Once more, I wondered where we were, if the Grand Eternity Hall existed in its own realm. How was it created? By whom? Who gave the Evermores power over it?

Maybe after I got my magic back, did whatever I had to do in Elysium, and broke the bond with Levi, I could come back here and ask the girls. I bet they knew. Or they could point me to books that talked about the hall's history. I was sure there were several volumes recording everything.

I let out a sigh.

After Abbie invited Mrs. Dennis, Elias, and Eugene to stay for dinner, Myg saw them to a sitting room where they would meet Belinda, Trent, and Magnus.

"I'll be there soon," Abbie told them.

When they left, Maggie picked up the tray and let the necklace drop inside a squared glass case. "So, no one accidentally touches it," she said.

One by one, the sisters left to clean up to meet the visitors and have supper. Even Lacey went with them.

I had come back to my room to wash up, but I was in no rush. I just wanted to eat one of those wonderful, magical meals.

Now, as I wasted time doing nothing in my bedroom, my mind had to go to Levi.

Break the bond with Levi.

The bond made me think about him. It made me want him, it made me want to be kissed by him again, to have him inside of me?—

I shook my head. Yes, sex with him was great, the best I had ever had, though that wasn't saying much as my experience was limited, but at some point, I had to forget about it, right? We did it, got it out of our system, and were done.

Now we could move on.

If only it were that simple.

A pang cut through my chest and I cursed under my breath.

All right, maybe it was time to go to the dining room. If it was too early for supper, I could meet everyone in the sitting room, even if I had to endure small talk with strangers.

It was better than staying here and yearning for a demon who didn't deserve my feelings, real or not.

I stopped at the closet to look at myself in the mirror—everything was normal. My leggings, my long-sleeved tee, my boots. I was even having a great hair day and my silver-blond locks fell into smooth cascades down my back.

Even though my phone only worked at the library, I stuffed it into my leggings' side pockets as I used it to check the time, set reminders, and make notes on the notes app.

Then I walked out of my bedroom, this time sure I knew the way to the dining room. I turned into two hallways, then started turning a third and skidded to a stop.

There was a wall in the way. I glanced around, confused. I was sure this was the way, but the wall seemed to continue, as if it had always been there.

Was I lost again?

I backtracked and decided to try another way.

Three turns later, the same thing happened.

"What the hell?" I looked up at the ceiling. "Are you trying to make me mad? Well, you're succeeding."

The hall didn't answer.

Huffing, I turned around and tried yet another hallway. By now, I was lost, for sure, but I knew that if I kept trying, I would soon find a staircase. Or I would bump into someone and go with them to the dining room.

Finally, after what seemed like forever, I made it downstairs and into the hallway where the sitting and the dining room were located. I was probably late for supper by now, damn it.

About ten feet from the archway, vines shot out of the knots along the walls and created a fence right before me.

"You are playing with me," I said, becoming upset. "Why are you doing this? Did I hurt you? Did I break something? Do you think I'll hurt the Evermores?"

Beyond the dining room, all the lights went off, and behind me, the lights flickered furiously.

What was the hall trying to tell me?

Tired of this game, I climbed the vines. They moved and tried wrapping around my legs, but I jumped before they could catch me.

I stepped into the dining room and the lights came back on.

I froze, my heart skipping several beats.

Everyone was sitting around the table, but they seemed dead? Fainted? Some leaned back in their chairs, their heads lolled to the side, others were bent over the table, their heads over the placemats.

I raced to the table. "Maggie?" I touched her shoulder. "Lacey?" I reached across the table and grabbed her hand.

Then I saw Abbie's chest move up and down slowly.

Asleep. They were all asleep.

But why? How?

I looked around. I saw Belinda, Trent, Abbie, Maggie, Gwen, Britt, Lacey, Mrs. Dennis, and Magnus.

Even the animals were here, in their usual corner, all sleeping.

But there were two people missing.

"Are you looking for us?"