Page 22 of Monsters in Love

CURSE OF THE CYCLOPS

CLIO EVANS

Daphne

Iglanced at my text message again as I bounced on the balls of my feet, trying to keep my blood pumping. My coat was warm but not warm enough to keep me from feeling like my heart was going to turn to ice. Not that it wasn’t already.

It’s a secret library. The password is ‘Epistêmê’.

How the fuck did I say that? I hissed between my teeth again and finally caved, descending down the steps to an ancient wooden door. The wood was dark and riveted, and the handle elaborate wrought iron that spiraled out into metal vines.

At the center of the door, there was a sign. I stared at it as I crept closer, scowling.

Cambridge Creature Library.

Enter if you dare.

Knowledge is power.

HUMANS: BEWARE

The last part was alittleextra.

Who knew that there was an underground library in Cambridge?

I'd been here for over a month studying at the college, buried in my Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic courses. I had always loved medieval history, literature, and languages— and studying here in Cambridge had been a dream come true. It was far from my small hometown in the US, but I had found the complete independence to be refreshing.

My parents had made a point of calling me once a week to check-in and update me on their boring lives. It usually involved the neighbors, rumors from the golf course, or the adventures of Pookie (who was a hairless dog that perpetually had her tongue sticking out). I loved both of them dearly, but their path was very straight and narrow, whereas I preferred to tumble headfirst down mountainous roads. I loved going to new places and meeting new people.

My obsession with books had never gotten me into trouble until possibly now. I had caught wind of a special book one night at a pub. My friend, Catherine, had shared all her secrets with me, swearing that I couldnever tell anyonebecause it could get her in trouble.

It had been the most bizarre conversation I had ever had. She told me about a secret library that no one knew about that had a book called 'Creatures of History and Their Curses'. Not only did it tickle my curiosity about history, but I also found myself wondering about the word 'creatures'.Creaturesled me to think it meant mythological beings, which would be interesting.

Too interesting for me not to check out.

Overall, it was a weird conversation. Catherine had kept calling me a human, which I was, but…

What an odd thing to say, right?

What had really got me was her mentioning that the book hadn't been studied in at least a century. As a certified book whore, I had to see it in person. What was it about? No idea. How old was it? Also, no idea.

But, it was secret and never seen by humans, so that meant that I— a human— had to lay eyes on it, come hell or high water.

Catherine had told me I'd have to work to get to it but that I would always regret it if I didn't. She'd been wasted, but her conviction had been… convincing.

Aside from having a fictional addiction, I also had a curiosity that had gotten me in trouble many times in my 25 years. That curiosity had also given me plenty of adventures, though.

My phone buzzed again in my hand, and I glanced at it.

Don't let the dragon trick you.

My eyes narrowed, a little alarm bell going off in my head. One that I ignored.

She must have been at the pub again, although it was a little early for such an outing.

I snorted as I put the phone back in my pocket and reached out, grasping the knob. I tried pushing it, but it didn't budge.

Would a password really work?

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