The Library (The Librarian of Alexandria Book 1) by Casey White (ebook reader 8 inch .TXT) 📗

“It’s just a thought,” Owl said weakly, scooching a little farther away. “If you don’t want to answer, then-”

“I don’t understand what would’ve given you that idea,” Olivia muttered. “And I don’t see how it relates to anything.”

“You just...don’t seem like the kind of woman satisfied to stay in anyone else’s shadow,” Owl said. “How many of the paintings in the Library have you already redrawn?”

“Only a few doze- I mean, that doesn’t matter,” Olivia said, cutting herself off hard. Owl grinned from behind his mask. A point for me. She glared at him from the corner of her eye, before returning to her drawing. Her eraser flew over the damage, wiping it clean.

“Of course it doesn’t,” Owl said, his voice carefully soothing. “It’s totally meaningless, I’m sure. Anyway. I’m just curious how someone like you winds up playing the role of assistant.” He sighed dramatically. “I guess you just like paperwork.”

He was playing with fire, he knew. Like it or not, she was the guildmaster’s assistant. Poking at the bear to try and provoke a response was probably less than recommended. And he couldn’t really think of what he stood to gain.

At the sight of her expression flickering, starting to splinter away entirely, he couldn’t regret his choice to push things. She was Indira’s assistant, and she was here. He wanted to understand her, more than anything. He needed the insight. Hell, Indira was older than him. For all he knew, she’d keel over and die, and he’d be left dealing with Olivia for the rest of his internment as Librarian.

So he told himself.

Olivia pursed her lips, starting to go white. “It’s- I would never dream of unseating Indira,” she said. “Not ever. I respect her. She’s been a wonderful guildmaster, and-”

“That’s not what I asked,” Owl said mildly. “You can respect her and still want to be guildmaster yourself, someday.”

She stared at him, tight-lipped. She took a deep breath, opening her mouth - and shut it again.

Low and soft, he started to laugh.

“Oh, stop it,” Olivia mumbled, deflating.

“Sorry,” Owl said. He didn’t need to hear it from her lips, not when her face said it all. “Just curious. I’ll leave it alone.”

“Jerk.” Her eyes dropped to the picture she’d been sketching. Her shoulders drooped, and she heard him sigh.

He jumped when he felt her sag, her head brushing against his shoulder. His face heated in an instant.

“Things are simpler in here, you know?” Olivia said, her voice muffled but plaintive. He couldn’t see her face. He didn’t really need to.

He nodded. “Sometimes, yeah. It’s not always, though.”

“Even still.” Her hands wrapped about the sketchbook more tightly, her knuckles showing white through the skin. “I’m kinda jealous.”

“It’s not that great.”

“Whatever,” she mumbled. “It’s still sweet. No fighting. No cheating. Just...Just knowledge. I could deal with that for a while.”

Owl just stared straight ahead, his cheeks burning. He wasn’t a damn kid, his thoughts shrieked. But he was the Librarian, and she was a guest, and...he wasn’t a damn counselor. Whatever buttons he’d pushed, it was as if he’d pulled away a mask he didn’t know was there.

For the first time, he was seeing Olivia.

In the blink of an eye, the moment broke. Olivia jumped. Her head lifted, flying free of her shoulder as she stiffened. “O-Oh,” she said, pressing a hand to her face. “Sorry. Must be- sleepy. Yeah. Must have dozed off a little.”

“I did tell you it was late,” Owl said. Behind the smoked glass of his lenses, he watched her, unconvinced. “So let’s-”

“Right,” she said, springing to her feet. “I should- I should get back. Will’s probably beside himself. And I should get some sleep, clearly.”

“Uh-huh.”

No sooner had she taken a single step toward the exit, though, when she looked back over her shoulder at him - and grinned.

“Maybe I will be guildmaster someday,” she said, her eyes bright. “Wouldn’t that be something?”

“I’m sure you’ll-”

“Shh,” she said, pressing a finger to her lips. “Our secret, okay?” Her hand fell away, though, leaving her grin shining through. “Just watch me.”

Owl nodded, a matching smile on his face and his head spinning. This woman really was like a hurricane - and he was going to get whiplash. “Ambitious doesn’t half describe you,” he muttered.

“What’s that?” she called - from ahead, he saw as she skittered out the door.

“Slow down,” he mumbled, hurrying after her. She laughed, but waited.

Side by side, they walked back to the study - and this time, neither said a word.

- Chapter Thirty-Six -

Quiet.

Perfect, blissful quiet.

Owl stretched his arms out over his head, interlacing his fingers and stretching until each joint popped one after another.  Absolute perfection.

Granted, it’d be more perfect if he could take off his mask and wander the halls in something less oppressive than his uniform.  But, he’d take what he could get.

If he was timing things right, he should still have a brief window of solitude before his two guests started leaving their rooms and roaming the halls.  It’d been long enough since he had some time to himself and Alexandria.

The shelves passed by.  He slipped into a lonely wing - a chapel, stone columns rising to meet a high ceiling.  Stained glass lined the walls, letting in the morning light through sheets of red and blue.  Narrow desks lurked here and there, tucked away outside row after row of pews.

And...his breath caught in his chest.  His steps slowed.

Books were stacked high on every desk - and a low, whistling breeze echoed through the gaps in the walls.  She wasn’t angry at him, exactly, but...she wasn’t happy, either.

“I’ve been letting things slip, haven’t I?” Owl said, taking another step forward. He reached out, letting his fingers stroke across the smooth wood of the nearest desk.  “Olivia has been doing her chores, though.”  He swallowed, no longer quite so sure.  “Hasn’t she?”

The breeze turned to a wind, howling through the empty spaces in the chapel and rattling the windows.  Owl laughed softly, dropping