Chapter 16

Despite not being able to find Eliza, I was able to get directions to the library from one of the servants, reassuring me that it's somewhere I'm allowed to be unsupervised.

I turn the corner, wishing Pip could have come with me, but thinking better of it until I know what kind of place I'm walking into. I don't want to upset anyone by bringing my dog with me.

The library opens up in front of me and I let out a small gasp. It's bigger than I ever imagined possible, with three different levels and bookcases everywhere. The wood is polished to a high sheen, and it's clear that everything is well cared for. I've never been able to have much time for books, mostly because they're so expensive, but this makes me think it might almost be worth being a vampire.

I walk amongst the stacks, admiring the colourful bindings of the various books. I don't really know where to start when it comes to researching vampire politics, but there's a part of me that just wants to start pulling things off the shelves and start reading them.

I'm so distracted by the books that I run into someone, almost knocking myself down in the process.

A firm hand steadies me, and I look up to find a familiar face in front of me.

"We meet again," the mysterious man says, amusement dancing over a face that's much more handsome when it's not dark and he's not drunk.

"Hopefully with less wine involved this time."

He chuckles. "I don't find it necessary to drink to deal with the horrors of the library."

"Are there any horrors here?"

"For books, I believe the room where they restore old manuscripts seems somewhat like a torture chamber," he replies.

"Then I believe it's a good thing I'm not a book. Or old."

"Likewise." The way he says the word does funny things to me.

I clear my throat and step back. "I'm sorry for running into you."

"Should I be worried that you're trying to get in my way?"

"Considering I don't even know your name, it would be a strange thing for me to be trying to do," I counter.

He chuckles. "Fair point. I'm Linc." He holds out his hand.

"Beatrice," I respond as I take it.

His hand is warm and welcoming, and there's something about his touch that almost makes me want to linger, even though I know I shouldn't.

He drops the connection, only causing disappointment within me. "What brings you to the library?"

"I want to know more about vampire politics," I admit, not seeing any harm in it.

"Ah, a worthy topic."

"In all honesty, I don't really know where to start. I thought that when I arrived here, it would be obvious."

"Normally it is," he responds, pointing to a few blank spaces on the back wall. "That's where the blood charts normally hang."

"Where are they now?"

"They've been taken to be updated. When they return, you'll be able to find yourself on them. It happens after every Golden Moon. The newly turned must be added, and those no longer with us must be removed. You can learn a lot from them."

"Though not if they aren't here," I say.

"They'll be back by the next full moon. They'll be waiting until the coming betrothals have been announced," he says. "There are always a lot of them after the Golden Moon. New heirs in need of wives, new daughters in need of husbands."

A horrible feeling settles in my stomach. I'm one of those daughters, and somehow I'm not convinced that Bastian is telling me the truth about what he agreed I'd do in order to come here.

"So, without the blood charts, where should I start on vampire politics?"

"It's a broad topic," he says. "What part of it do you want to know?"

Anything that's going to help me stay alive or find a cure . I don't think either of those answers are wise to say out loud to a virtual stranger.

"What do you think is the best place to start?" I ask instead.

Surprise flits across his face. "I suppose a brief overview of the history of the major families. Potentially the royal family."

"Where will I find that information?"

"How about I show you instead? I can help fill in any of the gaps," Linc suggests.

I feel like I should say no, but I find myself nodding instead, unable to forget the sight of him so drunk because he couldn't deal with the feast. That can't be a dangerous person for me to be around, even if he did say I shouldn't trust him.

"We need to go this way." He gestures to the stairs leading upwards. "Not many people bother with the history section."

"That seems foolish, there's a lot to be learned from the past."

"Perhaps, but when so many of them have lived it, I suspect they don't see the point," Linc responds. "And not many newly-turned vampires think to learn about the history."

"I've always wished I could read more," I say as we climb up the stairs. "We had a book of children's stories when I was little. Da used it to teach me and my brother to read, and once I was able to, I'd read it over and over. I could probably recite them by heart now if I wanted to. But I've never been able to come to a place like this. My whole world changed yesterday. I discovered that the man I thought was my father, wasn't. I have no idea who I am or where I come from, and I want to find out more about it."

"A wise choice," Linc responds. "And not one I made when I first became a vampire."

"What did you do?" I ask curiously.

"Drink." Somehow, I don't think he means blood.

"So you do that a lot?"

"I'd never touched a drop until five years ago," he admits. "But after what I saw on my Golden Moon, there was no going back. But you don't want to hear that."

I do. Hearing someone dislike the whole thing as much as I did is helpful, but I can tell from his expression that he's not going to tell me more about it.

"Here we are," he says, gesturing to a dark bookcase full of leather-bound books. "The history section."

I run my hand down the shelf, looking at them and trying to decide which one to open first. "Do you have a favourite?"

His whole face lights up and he reaches for a blue tome in the middle, pulling it out. "This one." He hands it to me.

Carefully, I open it. " The Rise and Fall of House Sanulieon ," I read slowly. "Who are they?"

"They used to rule the court," he says.

I flip the page and squint at the words, trying to make sense of them. Even at first glance, I can tell this is nothing like the children's book I used to read. The writing is much smaller and more condensed, and the author hasn't held back on using lengthy turns of phrase.

Linc clears his throat. "Why don't we take it over to one of the tables? I have my own book to read, but you can ask me if you're struggling with any of the words."

I bite my lower lip. "How could you tell?"

"Your expression. And you said you only had one book at home."

I nod, hating how my lack of education is making me look. I know it's not my fault that I'm not able to read better, but it is a slight flaw in my plan.

Linc shows me over to one of the tables and sits down with his own book.

I make myself comfortable and try to make sense of the words on the page. Whoever wrote it doesn't have the most legible writing, which makes it a lot harder than it has to be, and I feel like I'm reading the same sentence over and over again while not making sense of it.

Tears well up in the corner of my eyes and I turn away so he can't see them.

Linc gets to his feet and disappears, giving me a moment to compose myself and wipe away my tears. I'm not sure exactly why he's left, but I'm grateful for it. I don't want him to think I'm weak, especially when I'm newly arrived here.

I turn my attention back to the book, but unsurprisingly, it hasn't gotten any easier to read. I take a deep breath and read the same sentence again, but between the complicated handwriting and the old-fashioned language, I'm not getting anywhere.

Footsteps sound, and I look up to find Linc accompanied by a servant. They set down a tray of tea and biscuits without saying a word, and disappear.

Linc sets a book down in front of me. "You should take this back to your room with you tonight."

"Am I allowed to do that?" I pick up the book and turn it over in my hands.

"It's from my personal library, not this one," he says. "It's a children's history book. I should have thought about the fact that you said you hadn't had much practice and not suggested one like this."

"You still have a children's history book?" I ask. "But I thought you said you were a dhampir before this?"

"I knew who my father was," he responds. "My mother was his mistress for a long time before she died. I was sheltered from some of the darker realities, including being a vampire, but I knew the basics. It meant I was able to read children's books about our history before I came here, I just didn't know they were about vampires."

I frown. "There are history books about vampires that don't mention vampires?"

"For children, yes. I guess the people who wrote them were worried about what young dhampirs might tell their friends."

"Oh."

"I thought it might help you practise reading, and we can talk about the other book instead. Hence the tea." He pulls the tray closer and pours two cups of tea. "How do you take it?"

"I don't know, I've never had tea before," I admit. "It's kind of a rich person thing."

"Ah. Then you should try it with a bit of milk, but if it's not sweet enough, you can add some honey." He pushes one of the cups so it's in front of me.

"Thank you." I give him what I hope comes across as a genuine smile.

"You're welcome. Now how far did you get?" He gestures to the book.

"I'm still trying to make sense of the first paragraph," I admit sheepishly.

"Do you want me to read it to you, or do you want me to tell you about it?"

I frown and look down at the page. "Read it to me? If you don't mind." I don't want to put him out, but I also want to know what the book says.

"I don't," he assures me. "History is fascinating to me. And this one does mention vampires." He shuffles closer until we're almost touching.

He leans over and pulls the book to him, bringing him close enough for me to smell him. There's something nice about his scent, reassuring even, but I can't place what it is.

" The origins of the vampire species are unknown, but legend says that they were created when the Emperor of Sanulieon made a deal with the moon in exchange for eternal life ," he reads, his voice low and melodic.

"The moon?" I echo. "That doesn't seem likely."

He waves a hand between us. "Doesn't it?"

"I suppose I don't know, I've never given much thought to magic before."

"No one knows the real answer," he replies. "But magic from the moon makes as much sense as any of the other explanations."

"Right, I'm sorry, I shouldn't make assumptions like that."

"It's all right. I had a lot of the same reactions," he assures me. "And it took me a while to realise that learning what people believe is just as powerful as knowing what the truth is. Some vampires believe the magic comes from the moon, and considering the Golden Moon is the only time a dhampir can become a full vampire, I have to assume there's something in it."

"So it's not possible any other time?" I pick up my teacup and take a sip. It's slightly bitter, but the milk makes it pleasant to drink.

"No. Many vampires have tried, particularly when they're in need of an heir, but they've all failed."

"So the moon is magic."

He chuckles. "Something like that."

I nod. "What else does the book say?"

"The whole book?" he teases. Or at least, I think he's teasing.

"I said I wanted to know about history," I point out.

"I think getting through the whole book might take more than one pot of tea," he responds.

"Oh, right. I'm sorry, I didn't think about how much time that would take up for you."

"It's not a problem, Beatrice," he says, meeting my gaze and smiling at me in a way that feels familiar and new all at the same time. "It just might take more than a couple of hours. But if you meet me here again tomorrow, we can do this again."

"What about your own reading?"

"I can do that when I'm on my own," he responds.

I return his smile. "Thank you."

The look he gives me makes something flutter inside me, but I ignore it, wanting to focus on what he's reading from the book instead. Even after just a few minutes, I can tell that this is even better than being able to read it myself. This way, I can ask questions when I don't understand things, and he elaborates on some of it without me even asking him to.

I'm not sure how any of this is going to help me stay alive, but right now, I don't actually care.