Page 126 of Akarnae

“I lied.” Aven’s response was as simple as it was uncaring.

Alex glared sullenly into the darkness. “What else have you lied about?”

He didn’t answer and she was forced to follow him in silence after that, his pincer grip cutting off her circulation.

She looked over her shoulder and saw that Gerald and D.C. were still trailing behind them. Months ago, Alex had promised D.C. that no one was after her and that there was nothing to worry about. At the time, Alex had thought it was true, but now her roommate was stuck in this mess with her, and she had no idea how to get them both out of there.

“Ouch,” Alex hissed when Aven yanked her around a pile of books. “Ease up, would you? I bruise easily.”

His fingers flexed even tighter and he led the way down an aisle before abruptly turning to walk between a stack of shelves. He stopped three quarters of the way along and picked out a book, handing it to Alex. It looked innocent enough but she knew the books in the Library could trigger hidden trapdoors, and she wasn’t willing to make the mistake of allowing her naivety to give him what he wanted by accident.

“Open it,” he ordered.

She crossed her arms, ignoring his painful grip. “No.”

“Open it.”

“No.”

“Gerald.”

Alex watched in horror as Gerald tightened his hold on her roommate. His blade grazed D.C.’s flesh and she whimpered as a droplet of blood dribbled down her neck.

“Open it,” Aven said again, “or your friend dies.”

Alex looked from D.C.’s terrified eyes to Gerald’s excited ones before she turned back to Aven. His gaze was cold and uncaring; he’d have no hesitation following through on his threat.

“I—I—”

“Last chance, Alexandra,” Aven said, leaning close. “Open the book!”

Alex couldn’t just let him kill D.C., but she still didn’t know what the consequences would be if Aven made it through to Freya. Why was he so desperate to get there? Would saving her roommate mean dooming her world? Was D.C.’s life really worth the risk? Alex’s lack of answers both frustrated and terrified her.

“He hasn’t found what he’s after yet,” D.C. whispered, even as Gerald pressed the knife deeper into her skin.

Alex didn’t know how her roommate even understood what was going on, but she chose to trust the other girl’s words. Closing her eyes, she tore the book open, hoping desperately that it wouldn’t create a doorway to Freya.

“That wasn’t so hard now, was it?” Aven purred.

Alex reopened her eyes and felt her stomach lurch when she saw that a doorwayhadappeared before them. The glossy black panelling was streaked with flecks of silver, and the handle itself seemed to be glowing with an invitation to reach out and discover the secrets that lay beyond.

“After you,” Aven said.

Alex looked at his hand still clenching her arm. “Are you going to let go of me so I can step through?”

“That won’t be necessary,” he said. “I’ll follow along with you.”

Well, it had been worth a try.

Alex reached a trembling hand towards the glowing handle. It was warm to touch, strangely soothing, and turned easily beneath her fingers. The door sprung open without her help, and she sagged in relief to see that it led to a torch-lit corridor full of closed doors, much like the ones she’d explored months before. Her world was still safe—at least for the moment.

“What next?” she asked, looking down the corridor of endless doors. There were many more than she remembered.

“Now I find the door I’m after,” Aven said, gesturing for her to move forward. Once they were in the flame-lit corridor he stoppered the Liquid Light and waited for Gerald and D.C. to join them before he finished, “And then you will open it for me.”

Alex didn’t waste her breath contradicting him. Instead she asked, “Why do you even want to go to Freya? What’s in it for you?”

Aven tilted his head and eyed her with bemusement. “Freya?”

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