Nana hit the brakes on her jeep, rolling into one of the parking spaces in front of the library before coming to a complete stop. Killing the lights then the engine, she sat back in her seat and slumped down. Her fingers were clammy, stiff and full of sweat. When she looked at her watch, she read 4:40 A.M.
The sun would be up in a few hours. Time was short.
Another car rolled into the parking lot, parking a few spaces down from where Nana was. The girl sat up, scanning the driver's side for whoever it might be. She only got out of the car once she saw Jewel turn off her headlights and open the door. The two approached one another, hugging tightly.
"How are you feeling," Jewel asked softly.
Nana sobbed dryly into her neck. Her embrace grew tighter as she took short but heavy breaths. "It's only been a few hours and I feel so much pain."
"I know. I know." Jewel pulled away, wiping the tears that threatened to escape her eyes. "When the time is right, we'll tell him together. You won't be alone."
Nodding, Nana took another breath to strengthen her nerves. She pointed towards the library, stating, "We're going in there."
"I figured. What for?"
Nana placed a finger to her lips, shushing her and starting ahead. Jewel crossed her arms under her bust, before following after closely. Their feet carried them up the stone steps one by one, their presence echoing loudly in the silence of the dark morning hours.
Nana willed the air around her finger, placing the tip against the keyhole to the door and forcing it inside. A loud click filled their ears, and the door slowly slid open. Stepping inside, they inhaled the scent of freshly printed ink and paper. Thin lights illuminated overhead and rain down in wide columns. The sections of books were lined up by genre first, then alphabetical order within each aisle.
Silence was around them. It sent a chill down Jewel's spine, but she didn't comment on the creepy feeling in her stomach.
Nana led the two towards the front desk, walking around herself and looking over the scattered pieces of paper and folders left over from the day prior. She pursed her lips, crouching down and looking under the countertop. "Where is it?"
"Where is what?"
"Last time I came here, with my parents, Mom left something under the information desks."
Jewel watched Nana, placing her hands on the counter. Nana. That was years ago. What are the chances that whatever you're looking for is still here? Why would she leave it here in the first place?
"Wait! Found something!"
"Shit, really," Jewel asked. Nana poked her head out, standing up with a small brown box in her grip. Placing it on the counter between them, she trailed her finger over the golden oak and white fabric that remained untouched overtime.
It had been years since she last saw her mother's music box. It remained as pristine as the day they left it here, locked tightly and holding something secret to even Nana. "Mom told me to come get this box when the time was right. Now feels like that time."
"What's inside?"
Nana shrugged. "No clue. She never told me. Hoped she never needed to."
Jewel rested her chin on her arms. "Helpful. How is it that it was hidden here all this time without being touched? Don't forget, WaterSlum was blown to pieces a while back."
Nana looked Jewel in the eye, smirking at her and replying with, "My mother was crafty, and Daddy was paranoid. No doubt they worked up a spell to keep it in its own space. Somewhere it couldn't be disturbed until one of us came close."
"So where was it just now?"
"On the floor under the chair," She said bluntly.
"And absolutely nobody found it all this time?" Pausing for a moment, Jewel took a long, slow look around the library, raising an eyebrow as questions formed in her head. "I'm going to ask you something. Tell me the truth." She looked Nana in the eye. "Did your parents own this library?"
"Yup."
"And you NEVER brought this up, why?!"
"No need. I don't even think Takabi knows, now that I think about it." Her shoulders slumped at the mention of his name. "My Dad owned a lot of businesses. When he did, I inherited them and helped with their reconstruction from time to time."
Watching her closely, Jewel rubbed her ears and tried to absorb her words. There's absolutely no way none of us noticed that! No way!
"So… So what's where your extra money comes from… Why the hell do you have a job then?"
"I wanted to try it out. Takabi said he wanted to live like a human. It sounded fun." The Angel forced a smile, before her eyes diverted back to her mother's treasure.
Her hands hugged the side of the box. Raising it slightly, she gripped the solid gold handle on the side and began turning it. The gears inside spun, greeting them with a gentle tune and faint light. Nana continued with the handle, Jewel watching in a fascinated awe. For whatever reason, she felt compelled towards the melody.
It was Angelic. Peaceful.
"This tune have any lyrics? What's it called?"
"It's an old angelic nursery rhyme Mom used to sing to me. It always put me at absolute peace and had me out like a light." She looked at Jewel. "I can't remember the name of it, though."
Touching her chin, Jewel pulled up a chair from one of the tables behind her, continuing to watch Nana simply play the music box. Both were waiting for something to happen. Anything at all, but unsure of what. At one point, Jewel considered this tune was actually to call a demon from Hell. Of course she kept that idea to herself.
Rough coughing filled their ears. Nana stopped the tune, both turning their heads quickly towards the noise. It stopped for a moment, both girls growing stiff with shot nerves. Putting the box down, air began to dance around Nana. She stepped forward with hesitation in her bones. It held her firmly, but she fought against it, strengthening herself for anything that may be around.
It's still super early. No one should be here before hours, unless it's the security guard. Her eyes went wide and she slapped her forehead. Of course it's the guard. Who else could-.
Her thoughts stopped when she spotted an old man step from around one of the cases. He was dressed in dirty clothes that were stained with something yellow. His beard was full, grey in color along with his eyes. He had a big belly and wrinkles along his face, but his teeth were cleaned and white. Aside from his clothing and facial hair, one would never be able to tell this man was a bum.
It seemed like he was purposely going out of his way to simply look the part. "Good evening, Ladies." His voice sport a strange accent. It sounded intermingled with various different cultures. While Russian was the most dominant tone, Nana picked apart at least three different ones she recognized; New Zealand, Japanese and Spanish. "What brings you here?"
"I… could ask the same thing of you," Nana muttered. Something was off about this man.
Jewel stepped next to her friend, the two raising their fists just in front of their faces. She felt it as well. His appearance was deceiving.
"An old man can't simply pass through. I was cold, and needed a place to sleep for the night." He glanced over the pair and continued, "I can take my leave now if you wish."
Nana stepped ahead, planting her foot firmly on the floor. "I think not. Who are you?"
"Can't remember," He said. "Too many drinks. Lost a lot of brain cells."
"Let's go already, Nana." Jewel touched her arm, but the girl snatched it back and stepped ahead again. "He's just a bum. Leave the poor man alone."
"Jewel, you can feel it too, right?" Nana looked back at her. "He's not normal. The biggest thing is his accent. It's an intermingled mess."
"Just drunk language," He commented, raising his finger. "Please, pay me no…" His eyes fell on the music box behind them. Nana followed his gaze, then slipped between him and it. Raising a boney finger, he asked, "Is that yours?"
"Yeah," She commented. "Why?"
"I haven't seen it in ages. So then," He met Nana's eyes, "You're… Nana Kaze. Mary and Michael's child."
Her heart leapt into her throat. "How do you know that," She asked.
"If you're Nana, then this one must be Jewel Martinez." He gestured towards Jewel, and his eyes glanced at her stomach. "Congrats on your baby."
Jewel stepped back, holding her stomach. "Who ARE you!"
Nana pulled her arm back. Air gathered around her fingers, before she thrust it forward and sent the gathered wind towards the man. Books, tables and anything nearby spun within the tornado, surging towards the aged man. Once it got close, he raised his palm, freezing everything in place. Not with ice, but simply stopping it in its tracks before flicking his wrist and dissipating the attack. The girls' eyes went wide, Nana lowering her arm. "That's not…"
"Forgive me. It's been a while since I've had the chance to speak to someone normally." He held his stomach. "Currently, my power is not what it should be. Neither is my knowledge or presence." A faint ache touched his spine, and after stretching, it cracked audibly and made the pair jump in place. "Ah, that's better."
This guy stopped my attack like it was nothing.
He glanced at Nana. "That's what happens when the power gap is large enough." He chose not to comment on her stunned expression and sat down in one of the chairs Nana flung at him. "That music is special. I gave it to Mary because I foresaw events coming to this point. While time is never set in stone and space can have its own plans for its people, being cautious is never a bad thing." He pointed towards the box. "The melody there, to answer your earlier question Jewel, is "Calling of the Mighty Wings". A tune the first mortals created to praise Angels and Gods for gifting us with life and knowledge, and call for them when we needed guidance."
"I'm going to ask one more time," Nana muttered. "Who. Are. You."
"Nana, you've had guesses by now I'm sure." He sat back in his chair. "I've gone by many names. Many different forms as my power has passed on and gifted the next in line. You all know me as a Diety. I prefer the name Joseph, but you may call me God or Lord if you so wish."