Page 40 of Creatures of Chaos

Sure enough, when I pull it out it shows it’s a quarter past eight, and I’ve missed calls and texts from both my parents. Typing out a quick note with my thumbs, I send them an apology and let them know where I am and that I’ll be home soon.

“Are you done with these?” Mr. Brone asks when I look up, pointing to the messy stacks of books spread across the table.

“Oh yeah, I’m sorry. Let me put them away,” I say, snatching up a small pile and shoving theDragon Shifter Lawbook on the bottom. I’m not willing to take the chance that if I ask Mr. Brone to borrow it he might just take it away from me.

For the next few minutes Mr. Brone and I return the books to their spots on the shelves in silence. With his back turned, I slip the dragon shifter book into my backpack, a knot of unease forming in my gut, but I assuage my guilt by reminding myself it’s for a good cause. Besides, I’ll return it when I’m done, and Mr. Brone will probably never even know it was missing. I have to have a look at this book though. How am I supposed to help Becks out of his arranged marriage if I don’t understand dragon shifter law?

After Mr. Brone and I clean up the mess I made over the last several hours, I follow him out of the library and down the winding staircase to the ground floor.

“I hope you found what you were looking for,” he says conversationally, and I think about the contraband I have hidden in my bag.

“Actually, no. I was looking for some information on an Ancient, but I’m starting to think it’s a lost cause.”

“Research for one of your classes, right?” he asks, and rather than contradicting him I just nod. That’s easier than explaining my new obsession with Shadow Striker.

“I heard about a specific story, but I’m starting to doubt it’s even actually an Ancient. I can’t find any information about it anywhere.”

“Hmm,” he says as we reach the ground floor and head toward the entrance so Mr. Brone can unlock it for me to leave. “What’s the story? I’ve done my fair share of studying the Ancients over the years. Call it a hobby, if you will. I may be able to point you in the right direction.”

I wave, unconvinced Mr. Brone will know anything when no one else has. “It’s really obscure.”

“Well, now you have to tell me,” he says with an easy smile. “Try me.”

We pause in front of the door. “Have you heard of the tale of Shadow Striker and the Vampire King?”

Mr. Brone’s smile dims. “That certainly is an obscure tale. Where did you hear about that particular Ancient?”

“A customer who came into the shop asking about Shadow Striker,” I answer honestly, the chance that he may actually know of the tale making my tongue looser. “I’d never heard about it before then.”

Mr. Brone looks thoughtful. “Interesting,” he says. “Not many are aware of that Ancient. It’s a sordid tale of a corrupted soul and a weapon that never should have been forged. I suggest you see if you can switch the topic of your class assignment. There’s not much information available about the tale, and evenless truth. If you continue to chase after it, you won’t be the first to find yourself left frustrated and empty-handed.”

What a weird way to put it.

Rather than dampening my curiosity, Mr. Brone’s warning only ramps it up. It’s clear he knows more about Shadow Striker and the tale of the Vampire King than he’s letting on.

“That may be true, but I find it a really interesting subject, so I’m not sure I’m ready to drop it just yet. Do you happen to have any books that mention it? Maybe I missed something when I was upstairs.”

Mr. Brone shakes his head. “No, and you’re not likely to find one either.”

My insides deflate. “Why not?”

“It’s one of the stricken Ancients, removed from the original canon. Most of the information we have on that tale is hearsay passed down from creature to creature.”

“Yet you’ve heard about it,” I say, pressing him.

He crosses his arms over his chest, seemingly uncomfortable with this conversation, but I can’t let it go now. He’s the first creature I’ve talked to who knows something about the tale besides Talon. “Was there something in particular you wanted to know?” he asks. “I may have the answer, but I’m not sure if your teacher will count me as a credible source for your project.”

“Oh, I’m sure they will,” I say, waving off that concern. It won’t matter if my teacher thinks he’s a credible source, because I’m not actually researching Shadow Striker for a project. “From what I know, the blade gives its wielder other creature’s powers. I wanted to know if the blade stole powers from creatures or not. And if it really did corrupt the Vampire King.”

He studies me. His gaze turning shrewd. “Who’s to say? It’s only a story,” he says with a shrug, and frustration bubbles in my gut.

I’m about to thank him for letting me use his library and leave when he says, “But . . .” and I straighten my spine, hoping for a more definitive answer. “. . . if the dagger truly exists, from what I’ve gathered about the tale, I think it’s entirely possible the blade doesn’t steal powers but rather replicates them. Shadow Striker need only draw blood to work its magic, so if it’s not taking a life, then I would assume it’s not actually taking powers either. My theory is that when the blade soaks up the blood it’s learning the creature’s magic to replicate it. But of course that’s just my opinion.”

That makes sense to me, but is it enough to risk if Shadow Striker were actually in my hands?

“And as far as the poor Vampire King, the tale does suggest that he underwent some sort of change. There’s more evidence that backs up the theory that his quest started nobly, but it’s debatable whether it was Shadow Striker that poisoned his mind, or if it was something far simpler. I would think that any being with that much power would be susceptible to corruption. Don’t you agree?”

I nod. He makes a good point.

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