Page 127 of Revenge of the Forgotten

He’d been one of the first territories to side with Marlena, but it was only because it was the easy way out—Littera-born weren’t fighters. They used their brains, not brawn. Nero knew his best chance at survival was to get as close to Marlena as possible.

“You stick to the outsides of the room, you might find the best books in the shortest amount of time.” Colette’s voice rose, giving Vega and Arlet an escape.

Stick to the middle. Vega and Arlet locked eyes, nodding at one another as they slid their backs down the shelves.

“Thank you, Colette. Your time starts now, students,” Nero told them, a beep going off as a timer started.

Vega snooped around the corner, finding the doorway empty. She nodded to Arlet, who followed close behind. They stepped out into the open, working quickly to line themselves up in a new row. The pair worked quietly, row by row, until they were at the door.

Arlet reached for the handle, but Colette stopped her with her hand around the knob. “Get out of here. Do not look back. Head straight to Solum. Get on your boat and leave.” The blonde sank into the row of books, disappearing from their sight.

The door creaked open, and Vega was so close to freedom she could taste it…

“Colette?” Nero rounded the corner with a book in his hand.

Vega locked eyes with the ancient man and watched as his grew wide with recognition. “Arlet, go,” she squawked, shoving her through the door.

“Colette!” Nero screamed as the door clanged shut.

Vega and Arlet tucked their bags under their arms, sprinting through the maze of halls.

“I saw her! Stop her! Stop them!”

Arlet took a right, but Vega snatched her by the arm, pulling her to the left. It was easy to get lost in the archive's cavern-like underbelly. “Through those double doors,” Vega pushed, pointing ahead.

The two burst through them at the same time, the doors cracking against the wall.

Arlet’s long legs took her farther faster, but Vega was on her heels, pumping her arms to keep her accelerating forward.

The side door they’d come in through was only a few paces away—they were so close to Arlet being able to make them vanish.

Vega could feel her own powers tingling the closer they got to the exit.

Nero was old, slowly working himself to his own grave, but he made it to the main room before they could exit. His shaky voice roared through the quiet building. “Why isn’t anyone stopping her?”

Heads popped out from the rows of books, shaken by the sudden screams in the perpetually quiet building.

They didn’t slow down. I will not become a prisoner again. I will not!

Arlet pushed through the door, freeing them into the afternoon chill. Vega’s body buzzed with the full force of her power.

Arlet snatched her this time, yanking her against the wall. The girls caught their breath, chests rising and falling in quiet gasps. “We’re covered. Stay still.”

Nero stumbled through the door, hopping down the steps with Colette right behind him.

“Where is she? I know I saw her!” His breaths were shallow, fit for a man who wasn’t used to exerting himself.

“Grandfather.” Colette spoke, reaching out to grab his arm. “Are you okay?”

Vega and Arlet watched from feet away as Nero turned in circles, looking for two women who were no longer there.

“I saw them!” He continued to search, looking behind pillars and under the steps.

“Who? What are you talking about?” Colette showed her true colors as she played her own blood for a fool.

“Vega and her useless friend!” He was getting angrier as time passed, unable to find them.

“Grandfather,” Colette repeated, stepping into his line of sight. “Are you feeling unwell? There was no one… Vega wasn’t here.”

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