Page 42 of The Heirs

Shaking my head to clear the visions, I couldn’t help but think about what Eli had said in the car. That I gave Halley strength, and yet as I looked at the scene before me, I wondered if she knew she was the strongest of us all.

Halley broke from the group, walking towards me. “The library is here Knox.”

Looking around the area, I tried to see what she was talking about. But there was nothing around, no barrier to pass through, just trees. Before I could respond, asking what she meant, Kalani screamed, dropping to the ground. Maeve immediately went to her side, but Eli pulled her back. The two of them stared with horror as Kalani writhed on the ground, Madden silently walking towards her in his wolf form.

“I can’t hold it in. It wants out.” Kalani screamed, her body shaking as it began to shift, the creature that haunted her taking control.

I went to step forward, not knowing what to do, but knowing I needed to do something when Halley’s soft hand grabbed my arm. Bewildered, I turned towards her, but there was a knowing glint in her eyes.

“Kalani told me this morning that the creature was telling her something. That it couldn’t wait anymore. I think I know why now. Remember the vision when you first discovered the Sanctum Library?”

Halley’s words pushed at me to understand, to realize what was going on. I thought back to the vision. Halley’s grandfather telling Lenora about the library and what was in it. And his words, words that were important in this moment.Only the changed can enter.

I swung my head towards Kalani before swinging back to Halley, wondering how we all missed this before.

“Only the changed can enter the library Knox and right now, that’s Kalani. We have to let the creature lead the way.”

Vocalizing the plan to the rest of the group, we all backed up as Kalani completed her shift, the inky spikes of the creature taking over. The shadows circled her, the same ones that followed Halley’s immense power. The creature howled, the sound splitting the silence of the woods in half, before sauntering forward towards a gap in the trees.

As the creature walked between the trees, there was nothing, and then so quick you’d miss it with a blink, the air around the trees wavered, revealing a path leading to somewhere we couldn’t see. Kalani’s creature turned its head, glancing at us as Halley spoke.

“She wants us to follow her.”

The rest of us moved into action, our faces mirrors of bewilderment as we began to follow the path. Hope swelled in my chest as we continued walking forward, knowing that this had to be it. This was the path that would lead us to the Sanctum Library, that would allow us to access the prophecy that had been hidden from the Divines for centuries. This was our chance to reclaim our home and take our people back.

We continued to walk for hours, the trees lining the path the same as the ones in the woods we had entered from, the only distinction that we were somewhere enchanted the endless road our feet treaded on. No one spoke as we walked, too lost in their own heads about what was happening. Maeve walked close to me, keeping her eyes on Kalani the whole time, who was ahead of us still. Madden walked behind us; also checking in on Kalani, his instinctual need to make sure she was okay prominent. The other three walked towards the back, Eli and Wilder struggling from the loss of blood and overuse of their powers. Halley, on the other hand, although she had used enough power to knock her on her ass, stood tall, taking in everything with a knowing glint. I couldn’t help but smile at that. My strong fucking girl wouldn’t let anything falter her steps.

“Oh my god, Knox, look.” Maeve gasped and I turned forward to see what had her shocked. Standing before us, a five-story building stood tall. The building was made of almost entirely trees, large windows interspersed between, the sun shining off the glass and creating a halo of light. Vines of ivy ran up the windows, intercrossing and creating artistic patterns only nature could form. The sight was breathtaking, unlike any buildings I had ever seen before and I couldn’t help but wonder if this was what Agrum Di Vinum looked like.

Kalani’s creature stood before the entrance, staring at us, waiting for our approach. I heard the gasps of the others as they took in the library before us, all entranced with its beauty. Once we all stopped at the entrance, the creature began shifting, Kalani’s form taking its place. Madden stepped forward, handing her his shirt that she shucked over her body.

“The creature wanted us to find the library.” Kalani uttered, a wide smile spreading across her face.

I knew she had been struggling with the change that had come from her death and I was happy to see that things were looking up for her. Hopefully, once we entered the library, things would be looking up for us all.

Kalani stepped towards the wooded door, grabbing the shimmering doorknob, before glancing back at the rest of us.

“Shall we?”

Chapter Forty-Six

Halley

Stepping into Sanctum Library, we were transported to the essence of the Divines. The trees that created the structure filled the inside, creating steps to each level and housing the millions of books that adorned the interior. It was the most magnificent thing I had ever seen. And yet, also the most daunting. There weremillionsof books inside and yet we needed to locate two specific things. A book that could tell us more about Kalani’s creature that had somehow led us here and the Domicillum Prophecy.

“Where do we even start?” I asked everyone, but glancing at Knox, hoping he’d have a plan.

However, as I spoke the words, I hunched over, something tugging at the power in my chest aggressively. Standing straight, I saw that the others had felt it as well.

“It’s like the library is alive. It wants us to find the prophecy.” Eli spoke and all of us glanced at each other. I knew that the Enchanters were crazy powerful when trained, but this seemed like something else. As if whatever gave each Divine their power, was brimming inside the library, an intelligent entity that begged for us to follow the prophecy.

Grunting, we all felt the tug again and began walking in the direction it was pulling. Cascading up the stairs, we continued our ascent until we were all on the highest floor. Bright sunlight shone in; the entirety of the ceiling made of glass. Standing here, it felt as if we were among the clouds, leaving behind whatever was left below.

This floor was different than the rest, no books sitting on shelves, only a large glow coming from the center of the room. On the floor beneath the glow, five gold symbols were etched into the wooded floor. Stepping closer, I eyed the symbols. Each was different and I knew that somehow; they were the key to accessing the prophecy that obviously sat amongst the glow.

“The symbols represent each of the Sectors.” Knox spoke and I immediately saw what he had already figured out.

Madden wandered over to one of the two symbols on the left side of the glow, the gold depicting a human figure in the center with different creatures circling it. Wilder stepped beside him, the other symbol depicting a Divine with lengthened fangs in the center, outlined with symbols of blood drops. Eli and Knox walked to the right of the glow, standing before their symbols. The Seer symbol showed an eye in the center with small visions of the past decorating it. Eli’s symbol detailed another human figure encircled with pictures that represented the different emotions.

---