Page 5 of The Fifth Soul

I look at the item in question. I reach to take it off Matias’ hand, but the man gets to it first. He kicks the book out of my reach, then kicks me on the chest, making me fall on my back.

“Do not touch it!” He stands over me. “If you just witnessed the book trap his soul, why on earth would you think it would be a good idea to touch it too?”

His words echo in my head repeatedly as they take time to penetrate. My heart must’ve stopped because the room became fuzzy.

The book trapped his soul.

Matias is…what? Gone?

“No,” I say as I move over my friend’s body. “No. You’re lying. You are lying to me. He is not dead.” Each sentence comes out more frantic than the previous one.

The man steps back. “I never said he was dead. I said it trapped his soul in the book.”

I ask, desperate for confirmation, “Can you fix him?”

“I am sure a spell exists to get his soul back.” The man puts his hands on his hips. “After you explain why you broke in and tried to take it.”

“Are you sure?” The hope makes me sound crazy.

“Certain.”

I breathe and let my head fall into Matias’s chest. I notice it rise and fall with every breath. I smile at his chest. He’s breathing normally. His heart beating settles my nerves, he’s alive.

A strong wind blows into the space, and I suddenly feel pressure from all sides. It is uncomfortable, but not to the point where it hurts. It feels almost like a hug to every single limb before I’m moved to a standing position.

I manage to turn in place to face the man, but that’s as much movement as I’m allowed. I look at the young man constricting my movement. He's tall and slim. His hair is a blend of brown and red corkscrew curls, making them glow in the dim light. His clothing is professional and immaculate. He looks expensive and educated.

Everything I am not.

Whatever spell he is currently using to hold me in place is strong. No matter how hard I try to fight it, it will not budge.

“Who are you?” I ask.

At least my vocals remain unrestricted.

“The library keeper.” The man moves around me to take a closer look. “My name is Santiago. What is your name?”

“Bianca.”

“How did you break in?” His question does not carry much more than curiosity.

“I’m good at my job,” I say.

He looks down at Matias’s sleeping form as if he is enough of an example to say otherwise. I swallow a lump in my throat.

“Are there any more of you?”

“No.”

“Don’t lie to me. I am not stupid.”

“Are you sure about that?” The question slips from my lips. I want to hang my head. My smart mouth chooses the worst times to come out.

Santiago’s eyes narrow. “I am going to check your pockets. Will I find something that will hurt me?”

I shake my head. This sucks, but I need to play nice if I want their help to get Matias back. I hold my breath as he pats me down and checks my pockets. My left bottom pocket has an amulet I forgot I was carrying with me. Santiago takes it out. One look at the amulet and he takes a step back, dropping it on the ground with disgust.

“Is that a rabbit’s leg?”

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