Chapter 6:Conceal Everything
1050 Words
The sealing circle lit up with a bright light.
Irene screamed as the runes on the floor started to glow one by one making a pattern around her.
The air in the room got really heavy and cold it was cold enough to hurt her lungs.
Something inside Irene did not like the seal. It started to resist immediately.
It was not her body and it was not her mind it was something deeper.
The black mark on her wrist started to burn like it was on fire.
Irene fell to her knees. Held her arm tightly.
"Stop " she said, trying to catch her breath. "Please stop."
The librarian was standing at the edge of the circle with his hands raised he kept saying the words.
"Hold it " he said sharply. "Do not fight it."
"I am not fighting " Irene said through her teeth. "It is fighting me."
The light around her got even stronger.
Then everything just stopped.
It was really quiet.
The pressure in the room did not go away it just got worse.
It felt like the whole room was trapped in one breath.
The mark on her wrist stopped burning
The pain did not go away. It was not as bad.
It felt like something had been pushed deeper inside her.
Irene fell forward breathing hard.
The runes on the floor stopped glowing.
The circle was not lit up anymore.
The only thing left was a smell like something had been burned.
The librarian breathed out slowly.
"...It worked " he said quietly.
Irene looked up at him she was really weak.
"Is it gone?" she asked.
The librarian did not say anything away.
That was enough for Irene to know the answer.
"...It is hidden " he said finally. "For now."
Irene looked down.
For a moment she just felt really tired.
Then she heard a whisper.
It was soft. It sounded like someone was laughing.
"Temporary."
Irenes fingers got tighter.
"No " she said under her breath.
The librarian walked out of the circle. Came to her.
"Do not panic " he said. "If the seal works right it will hide the sign. No one will be able to find it."
Irene laughed a little.
"No one except me " she said.
The librarian looked at her wrist again.
"Do not think that what is inside you is not strong " he said. "It is not just reacting it is aware of what's happening."
Irene did not want to hear that.
She pulled her sleeve down quickly.
"I want to leave " she said.
"You will stay here until your magic is stable " the librarian said firmly.
"I am fine " Irene said.
"You are not " the librarian said.
They just stood there for a moment.
Then the librarian said in a voice "If the duchess finds out what just happened you will not make it through the night."
That made Irene quiet.
Deep in the library Zayn stopped walking.
His face got a darker.
He felt that pulse again it was stronger this time.
He put two fingers on the wall beside him.
The stone was still warm it had magic on it.
"Someone used a seal " he said to himself.
His eyes got narrower.
This was not magic it was not the kind that nobles used.
It felt old.
He started moving but slower.
He followed the trail through the corridor.
The deeper he went the weirder the air felt.
The bookshelves here were old and untouched there was dust everywhere.
Then he stopped.
There was a scratch on the floor it was burned black.
Zayn got down. Touched it.
His eyes got sharper.
" Magic " he whispered.
But something felt off it was not wild or crazy.
It was controlled, like something had been made to behave.
Zayn stood up slowly.
"What are you?" he said to himself.
Irene sat against the stone wall she was still catching her breath.
The librarian was checking the seals on the floor making sure they were okay.
Then he froze.
His head lifted up a little.
Irene noticed away.
"What is it?" she asked.
The librarian did not say anything away.
Then he spoke quietly.
"...Someone is in the library."
Irenes heart dropped.
"No one should be able to come " she said.
The librarian turned to the door.
"They should not " he agreed.
Then they heard footsteps they were slow and careful.
They were getting closer.
Irene stood up she was starting to panic.
"Who is it?" she whispered.
The librarians face got tighter.
"I do not know " he said. ". They are following the magic trail."
Irenes breath caught.
The footsteps stopped above the hidden room.
It was quiet.
"I know you are here " a voice said.
Irene froze she was really scared.
The librarians eyes got wider.
He whispered under his breath.
"Dukes blood."
Irenes stomach dropped.
Zayn.
Zayn stood still he was looking down at the floor.
The magic was strongest here below him.
He breathed out slowly.
"So this is where you are hiding " he said quietly.
He put his hand on the floor.
There was a pulse from beneath the stone.
It was not aggressive it was not defensive.
It felt unstable like something was being held down.
Zayns eyes got narrower.
"...Interesting " he said to himself.
He stood up. Took a step back.
Then he turned around looking at the corridor.
"I do not know what you are " he said softly. ". You are not normal."
He paused.
Then he said quietly ". Now I cannot ignore you."
Irene stepped back she was scared.
Her breathing got uneven again.
"He is going to find us " she whispered.
The librarian moved quickly.
"No " he said. "He will not enter this room unless he knows the seal pattern."
Irene looked at him sharply.
" If he does?"
The librarian hesitated.
"Then everything collapses."
They just stood there for a moment.
The footsteps above did not move away Zayn was still there waiting.
It was like he already knew something was beneath him.
Irene clenched her fists.
The mark, under her sleeve pulsed again it was weak but it was alive and it was watching.
- Writer
