Page 5 of Unraveled
While most citizens return home for the night, scientists stay in these quarters, maintaining the veil. My youngest sister hasn’t come home for the last year. I don’t expect today to be any different.
I don’t let go of my amulet as I climb the stairs, recalling spells that might help me in the case of an ambush.
The room is quiet even though I know the bells still ring outside, and the distinct sound of soles over tile flooring startles me. I see him before he sees me. A tall man with gold hair tied back into a low ponytail. He wears a white shirt with sleeves rolled to show muscular arms, and long trousers tucked inside tall black boots.
“Good evening,” I say, and he’s a blur of glinting brass in the dim light as he trains a pistol on me. I lift my arms with my palms forward, breathing raggedly. “I’m human and unarmed.”
Anyone who can wield magic is never truly unarmed.
He hesitates before lowering his gun. “How did you make it past the doors?” His dark gaze with a hint of amber travels from the top of my head down to the filthy hem of my dress.
If he learns I used magic to break in, he might report me to the elders and then I’ll be punished.
“The door was unlocked.” I shrug. “I want to make sure my sister is alright.”
His lips thin. “Your sister . . . ?”
“Irene.”
He searches my face with renewed interest. Slowly, his brows unknot, his eyes lighting with recognition. “Ah, so you’re the infamous Mia. I didn’t know you were a librarian. Isn’t it forbidden to use spells to barge into a restricted establishment?”
“I didn’t—” I fight the urge to fidget, lifting my chin in the air. “I couldn’t wait for someone to let me in... There’s a beast outside.”
He allows me to step closer and hums at my answer. Even though the uneasiness in my gut increases with every step I take, I push myself forward. He returns his weapon to the worn leather holster on his belt and studies the room. I doubt he can see the threads of magic snaking over the walls and floor or he would look more panicked than he does.
“Where is she?” I ask.
“She is . . . occupied.”
The building trembles again, this time hard enough that I have to hold on to the nearest wall while it shakes and rolls.
“Take me to her.”
The man crosses both arms over his chest at my command, lifting a brow.
I clear my throat and add, “Please.”
“Look, darling, I don’t allow random people near the machine, even if they are the sister of one of my scientists. Frankly, I don’t have the time to protect you if the beast were to come in, nor escort you to a safe place. So stay—or leave. I don’t care. One of the lower rooms will do until this shit blows over.”
“I’m not leaving without making sure Irene is safe. So lead me to her or get out of my way.” I keep my face neutral as he blinks at my tone and words.
I get the distinct impression no one speaks to this man with any sort of authority. Too bad I have to be the first one, and on such a night as tonight.
He glares at me. “So, what do you plan on doing if I take you to her, Mia? Use one of your parlor tricks to stop the beast?”
I take a deep breath, and the yellowed pages of the forbidden grimoire flash in my mind. A spell weaving in my thoughts as if I’m reading it for the first time. Sometimes, librarians’ “parlortricks” scare the citizens in Penumbra even more than the threat of beasts and fae. It makes us different—closer to what awaits outside the veil. A wolf hidden under a sheep’s skin.
“Skylar, the beast is tearing the veil apart, and we’ve run out of energy—” A familiar voice has both of our heads snapping in her direction.
Irene’s steps slow as her eyes meet mine from down the hall, and her brows wrinkle as she studies me. She wears brown trousers with a white shirt tucked into the high waistline. Is this their uniform?
Her hair is still as long as I remember it, black and styled to the side in a long braid. “Mia? What are you doing here?”
I walk past the man—Skylar—and reach for her hand, already feeling the pit in my stomach loosen. She’s safe for now.
“She broke in,” Skylar says, waving his hand in my direction.
“I suppose that’s something she would do,” Irene says, and her face falls.
