Serena's Curse

Chapter 6

Morning light stretched pale across Windrest as I found my way to the crooked library. The closer I came, the more its shadows pressed down on me. Its roof leaned dangerously above the cracked windows. The building itself told the story of how ancient it was, the structure had bent to the weight of years.

I pushed open the rather resistant door, the hinges creaked like a protest against my entry. Inside, the air smelled of smoke and parchment, shelves towered in uneven rows, heavy with books that looked older than the village itself. The place was so quiet, even whispers could be heard.

I moved slowly, brushing my fingers across cracked spins of old books, scanning titles I couldn’t see clearly. My footsteps thudded louder than they should have, I didn’t realise I wasn’t alone till I stopped at a turn and footsteps continued. I moved stealthily to the end of the row, but before I could complete the turn, she appeared.

She froze for a moment, studying me.

“Oh say it, I’m a stranger,” I spoke, cutting through the silence.

“No, I was going to say I didn’t expect to meet anyone here,” she responded softly. “And only a stranger would come sniffing around the Gloom this early.” She added.

“Well, My name is Ayden,” I introduced myself, with a light smile.

“Harriet.” She replied softly.

We spoke longer than I expected. She comfortably maintained eye contact and smiled effortlessly all through. We talked about the strangeness of Windrest, comfort of books, and the way the world outside looked.

“Talking so loudly in a place like this feels like a crime,” I said, breaching the lengthy strings of conversations.

“Don’t worry, people don’t often come here, we’re safe,” she assured me.

Just then the door creaked open, but didn’t close. “Someone is here now,” I whispered. “I’ll check it out.” I added. I took a few steps back towards the front, there I saw an old man,

“Watch your feet,” he said without even looking in my direction, I didn’t realise what he meant till I was sent to the ground by a metal plunge that hooked my feet like an animal trap.

When I got up, he turned around and faced me, “You don’t look like one of us,” he said, voice sharp.

“I am not one of you people,” I yelled in frustration.

“Stay still,” he said sharply again, still shaken by the outcome of not heeding his words earlier, I stayed still. But this time he came closer and grabbed my arm to see the mark clearly.

“You’re Darian’s son,” he commented. He shifted his gaze to my face, “You have his eyes,” he added.

He was the second person who knew my father in this village, I had a thousand questions, but Harriet’s re-entry interrupted,

“Good morning, Elias,” she greeted, voice calm and soft.

“No surprise to see you at all, Harriet,” the old man spoke, louder this time, it appears he and Harriet were quite acquainted, but I didn’t let any thoughts get into my mind that’d shift my gaze from Harriet.

The slightly darker end of the library had denied me a good view of her captivating beauty, her eyes looked like the sea, blue and calm.

“I suppose you two have met?” Elias cut in. Harriet and I stared at each other in the wake of the question, then we burst into laughter as if it were planned, then the silence hit again.

“I have to go now, I’ve got business at the square,” Harriet excused herself.

Her announcement of potential exit made my heart drop, she was the first person who didn’t make me feel like I was lost in Windrest. “There’s a game at the fountain behind the square later, would you come?” I requested.

“I’ll see to that.” She added, then left.

I watched her walk along the grassy plain till she disappeared out of sight, but I could feel Elias’ presence, studying me. When I turned back to him, he patted me on the shoulder, “You’re strong. She’s beautiful. It wouldn’t be pleasant to lose you both,”

“What do you mean?” I questioned with heightened curiosity.

“This is Windrest,” he spoke firmly, “love, romance… they cost more than either of you can pay.”