Page 126 of Revenge of the Forgotten

Colette came to a stop at a door, and after entering a code on a beeping keypad, slipped them inside unnoticed. “This row”—she pointed—“the third one over, and a small section over there will have anything to do with curses. If it’s not here, it doesn’t exist.”

Vega inhaled sharply at her words. The answer has to be here. It has to be.

“Is there anything in particular you’re looking for?” the young girl asked. “I have a photographic memory, so I might be able to tell you exactly where something is.”

Vega looked to Arlet, her best friend’s eyebrow raised as if to say, Your call.

“Anything on breaking curses?” Vega didn’t know if they could trust Colette fully, but she’d already damned herself by helping them.

A glimmer of excitement lit up her youthful features. “Ah, I wondered if that’s what you were here for.” She rubbed her hands together. “I have a few small tomes from before our people's time. They’re not kept here, and I’m leery to let them leave, but…” Colette looked around, lowering her voice. “I’ll lend them to you if you promise to let me know if whatever is in them helped.”

Vega nodded vigorously, her ponytail bobbing up and down. “Yes, of course.”

Colette grinned widely. “Great. I will be back soon. Find what you can quickly. The class rotating in will be here soon, and Nero is with them today.”

That was the only warning they were going to get. Colette deserted the room, leaving Arlet and Vega alone. Turning to her best friend, Vega quickly clarified what she was looking for. “The few books I have talk about small curses, things that most Fraus-born can do. Cursing small animals with blood, using potions to sicken your enemies. Look for things that talk of larger curses, curses on people, curses that can’t be broken. Things like that.” Vega pulled a small bag from her jacket and handed it to Arlet. “And if you see anything, anything,” she reiterated, “about Remus, Romulus, or the dead gods, you take it. I don’t care if it’s folklore from a children’s book.”

Arlet nodded, getting to work quickly in the far corner opposite Vega.

Vega gently thumbed through a few books before finding something worth sliding into her bag. The next ten books weren’t of interest, talking of topics she already knew. She picked one up she was able to get a feel for immediately, and she dropped the book with a picture of the Colosseum on it that read Roman Curses into her bag.

She moved around the room, riffling through pages until she heard the door reopen. Vega popped her head out of the row, expecting to see Colette. Her stomach sank to her feet when her eyes landed on an old man, followed by a small group of students.

Nero.

Arlet scuttled down the aisle with a happy grin on her face. “I?—”

Vega reared back into the aisle of books and pressed herself into the shelf. Her pointer finger rested against her lips, head shaking to keep Arlet quiet.

Arlet followed her move, stepping silently until she was hidden in the shadows of the bookcases.

“Alright, students.” His voice was as shaky as Vega remembered it to be. “You will have ten minutes to find the book you’ll use to write your final paper. Once we leave here, I will allow you three days’ time to complete your research. As your final year of training comes to an end, you will spend your last six weeks working alongside the smartest Littera-born our world has to offer.”

Vega didn’t let out a breath, scared to make a single move.

“Your time here at the Minerva Archives will be nothing short of spectacular, but there are many sleepless nights ahead of you. I will be here every step of the way. Marlena has—” The beeping of the door’s keypad interrupted him.

Vega cursed under her breath, dying to know why he’d brought Marlena up.

“Colette, what a nice surprise!” Nero cooed.

“Oh, Praefectus Nero, hello!” Her voice wavered. “You’re early.” She laughed nervously.

“Why, yes, these young minds are very eager to get their studies in curses started. Marlena has been very adamant about pushing them along faster if possible.”

Vega and Arlet locked eyes, dread filling Vega’s chest.

“Delightful,” Colette blubbered.

“I heard you were off today. I was disappointed by the news. Students, this is Colette Sophia. My granddaughter.”

Arlet inhaled in shock. Vega’s hand shot to cover her own mouth. They had to get out of here, now!

“Oh, I am off. I was just going to swing by and grab some leisure reading.” Colette tried to cover her tracks—hopefully Grandpa Sophia would fall for her lie.

“Colette was the top student in her class, and she got to pick the department she wanted to lead after graduation. If you all make it out of curse studies, you might be lucky enough to work under her.” Nero sounded proud, like any grandfather of a star pupil would be.

Nero had held a Curia seat for over 300 years and was one of the oldest people in Tolevarre at somewhere around 450 years old.

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