Page 5 of Entranced By the Basilisks

I have a book for you. For your Archive.

My grip tightens and I curse. The words on the screen dangle in reach like the lure they are. The resistance drains from me like sand through fingertips and I want to hit something.

I wish he didn’t know me so well.

2

EMILIA

What a fucking asshole.

That’s the mantra that goes through my head every time Director Adder deigns to speak to me. Each demand from him is as short as possible before he takes off as if insulted by my presence.

Maybe I’m being too hasty in my judgments.

The director is fair in his dealings, but he’s not someone I’d go to if I needed empathy. At least he isn’t my actual boss, and I wouldn’t have to talk to him about taking time off… if I ever took a vacation.

It’s been a long time, and it’s not going to happen soon.

A vacation means that I wouldn’t be busy, and if I’m not busy, then my mind won’t be distracted. If I’m not distracted, then I’d have to deal with the whole magic world thing.

It’s better to keep a schedule and lose myself to work until everything that’s happened isn’t quite so overwhelming. Until I’m not haunted by the memories of being taken by Grace’s stalker.

The email from Agnes with the specific titles for me to assess dings on my laptop and I pick it up, making my way to Grace’s lab.

For years, I’ve worked here completely ignorant of what goes on in the basement. Ignorant to a lot of things, really. Grace had explained that our library is home to the Archive, a project for the Council, the body that governs supernatural beings. The goal is to preserve and catalog every supernatural item that can be obtained to build a working history.

I get the impression from the way Grace talks about it and the pieces I’ve worked with so far, that there hasn’t always been a consistent record of these things. There are groups of beings that are isolationists and secretive. When I’d asked about it, Grace just shrugged and said something about how the world hadn’t been safe for rarer creatures prior to the formation of the Council.

With the things I’ve seen, I suspect that rarer creatures are still less safe than the majority. It turns out that discrimination isn’t only a human trait. Goody.

The lock on Grace’s lab beeps when I wave my updated key card in front of it. Access to the labs in the basement is a consolation prize for being thrust into this brand-new world. I even have my own lab next to Grace’s for restoring the books of magical origin.

I still have a lab on the upper levels for restoring mundane books, though I’m up there less and less. It would seem that my skill set is valued more for these types of books, and I can’t say that I regret that. I loved the books I usually work with, but these books are something else entirely. I’d have to be well connected and restoring for decades before working up to some of the museum pieces I’ve gotten to handle. Gilt, leather, and illustrations as far as the eye can see.

Grace looks up and grins. “Hey stranger.”

Her apron covers the vintage-cut emerald dress that hugs her curves. Grace makes every outfit look effortless and glamorous.

“I hear we have a new delivery,” I say.

“Yep, it just got here.” Grace gestures toward a large crate. I set my laptop down on the worktable we added to the space and go get the crowbar.

“Did you want to go to lunch today?” Grace asks. “It seems like forever since we’ve hung out.”

“What? Elliot doesn’t have elaborate plans for lunch?” I try to tease.

“Elliot can save his elaborate plans for another day.”

A lunch where Grace can tell me about how amazing her life is while mine feels like it’s falling apart?

I swallow and try to keep my smile on my face. “Not today. I think I’m going to have my hands full, and I don’t want to lose more time going to lunch. Another time though.”

Sadness passes over her face but Grace nods, not pushing.

A good friend would be happy that their friend is happy. I am happy that Grace is happy. So happy, but I can’t help other emotions that stew. Things we’ve dealt with on the superficial level, like betrayal for the years that Grace has lied to me about the supernatural world or fear over all the new things.

I’ll settle up with Grace when it feels like I can chip away at the smorgasbord of emotions and thoughts taking up space in my chest. Just not yet.

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