Light in the Shadows

An Assignment

David followed Peter into the diningroom. My bug hadn't worked this time. About a year ago I had snuck a recording device into Peter's office to spy on him. Most of the time it worked, but today I hadn't caught any of the conversation between them. This happened sometimes as if at times he really didn't want me to know something.

Peter smiled at me. "Jayla, David will be staying for a while. I want you to show him around and introduce him at school."

I nodded. "Isn't it a bit late in the year for us to run the Young Scholar program. This is Spring Break."

"We are getting a jump on next year. It will be your Freshmen year." Peter replied.

I sighed inwardly. I had plans for the summer. I glanced at David, he was cute and there was a mystery about him, but he wasn't part of my plans. My father brought out the food and for a while we all ate in relative silence.

I decided to break the silence. "So, David, what sports do you like?" I asked.

"I enjoy horseback riding, archery, and martial arts, though not exclusively Asian martial arts." He replied.

"So, no football, basketball..." I named a few more sports.

"I never got into the other sports. I guess I enjoy swimming. Do you do any sports?" He asked.

"I cheer, though most don't consider that a sport, I also enjoy archery and horseback riding." I replied.

I expected him to say that cheering wasn't a sport. Corbin always made that jab. Instead he nodded. "I do more reading than anything, mostly histroy," He said.

"When we finish dinner I will show you the library." I said.

Once we had finished eating David took his and my plate to the kitchen and rensed them. I watched from the door. My father normally did the dishes, but David seemed accustomed to chores.

"I like him, you may learn good habits from him," My dad said from behind me.

I turned and stuck my tongue out at him as David dried the two plates. "I do what you ask."

He nodded and walked around me. "I'm not complaining, but normally I do the dishes. It's part of my job."

David nodded as he placed the clean dishes on a drying mat. He looked at me. "Are you ready to show me the library?"

"Follow me." I replied.

The library took up the western third, fourth, and fifth floor of the house. It was one of my favorite areas. As we walked into the library David paused. Three floors up large skylights let in the light of the full moon. Large windows lined the western wall as well.

Narrow balconies gave access to the books on the upper floors with bridges going between balconies. Mirrors were placed about the room to reflect light into the shadows created by the bridges and balconies. The library was truly a magical place.

"The house was built in the sixteen hundreds, they used as much natural light as possible." I paused. "The libray uses an unusual organizational system. This floor is dedicated to books written in the twentieth and twenty first centuries. The fictional section is small, less than a thousand books, but small libraries in the guest quarters and offices make up for that. The next floor is books from the fifteen to eighteen hundreds, the top floor is dedicated to books that predate the printing press and even has some scrolls. I have been taught how to handle these books and I can teach you."

David was looking up at the stars, a look of wonder on his face. No one from school that had seen this library had reacted this way. There was something different about him.

"Do you believe in the supernatural?" I asked.

David glanced at me. "Like God and Satin?"

"The old gods, you speak Gailic." I replied.

I half expected a vague answer like Peter would give or the denial that Corbin or his father would provide.

David studied me for a moment. "I believe that the world is more complex than any of us can see. I don't believe anyone has all the answers." He looked me in the eye. "I also believe that you need to choose your questions carefully."

The warning seemed to confirm my suspitions, but still didn't give concrete proof; it did give me hope. Maybe, if I was very careful, he would let me into the truths I'd known my whole life. I led him to the section of the library that was translated books on the supernatural world.

He ran his fingers over the spines of the books reading the titles. "Have you read all of these books?"

"In this section, yes." I replied.

He pulled out a book that was labled Introduction to Arcanum. "If you believe, why do you wish to open yourself to the dangers of the world?"

I looked at him. This was another admission that I was right. "Not being able to see a danger doesn't mean it isn't there."

"If you were to prove that your ideas were true, how would you do it? You can give me your answer tomorrow."

I watched him as he thumbed through the book. He as nothing like anyone I had ever met. He was keeping the conversation open, and while he had not truly recognized the exisitence of the supernatural, he hadn't denied it either.

"Can I keep this one a while?" He asked.

I nodded and gave him two other books that I thought went well with that one. "I'll let Peter know. That is the custom."