"Several secrets lie beneath the flesh of Astrolia."
The words make me freeze as if I was paused. The heavy movement of the library doors alerted me, making me shove the journal into my satchel, suddenly panicking as if I was doing something I shouldn't have been doing.
I rush down the shelves, trying to not look panicked. Glancing behind me, a person dressed in all black quickly looked around, careful not to reveal themself. My heart lurches to my stomach and I pull the sides of the shelves, running fully and deeper into the library. I glance behind me and see the shrouded person they're looking for me.
I dart into a dark hidden spot between two large bookshelves with dust and spider webs. My hands move up to my mouth as I catch my breath and crouch on the carpeted floor. I can hear the shrouded person's footsteps nearing closer and walking right past my hiding spot. My heart thumps and I swear it echoes.
The stranger lets out a grunt before walking back the way they came, but I don't move. I count my breaths as my legs and feet start to ache from my position. It's dark, darker than before. I close my eyes and let out a silent exhale. Just as the loud castle bell rings a single time, alerting the beginning of the next hour. I don't move, but I know that if I don't go now, Lord Ventura will personally search for me.
After a few seconds, I crawl from my hiding spot, careful to stay in the dark areas of the shelves, before making a run for the large doors of the library. My hands touch the gold handles, yanking at the metal. The door doesn't budge. My heart drops and yanks two more times, glaring at the door, my hands connecting with the wood. I curse under my breath before inching away from the door and turning around. The library seemed a lot darker than before, the electrical lights dimming slowly. The large windows were covered in thick navy-blue curtains.
I inch away from the door before making my way to the second floor.
The second floor didn't have shelves, all the four walls with built-in shelves that held 1000s of books, with a ladder that slide from a railing to reach the higher shelves. On the opposite wall of the doors, instead of it being rectangular, it curved, like the half stadium shape. The curves hold two large floor-to-ceiling windows on both sides, covered by large curtains. I walk along the right curved wall and up to the first window, my hands pulling at the gold rope and walking backward, forcing the curtains to reveal the large gold paned window.
Unlike the other windows of the castle, these windows were stained glass. With colors of bright blue and green shining into the room. The first window was an island and a ball of white shined down on the island, but below the island were different creatures that looked angry, including an enormous sea creature with a gold crown.
I stare at the image before moving to the next window beside it, repeating the action I did for the first one. The second window's-stained glass was different. Rather, it was a large black ship, with another ball of white shining down on the ship and the image of a man.
I back up, my gaze focused on the stained-glass images. I move to the third and open the curtains. This stained glass showed the slaying of the crowned sea creature, and below it was the island again. Instead of monsters beneath the surface, it was nothing but clear waters.
And the last window was duller, with the black ship leaving, and below was the island split in two, and beneath the surface was a green, emerald eye, amongst the dulled colors stood out. It made my skin crawl.
I step back before noticing the new darkness of the library. All the lights were off, with only the stained glass allowing me to see. I hear shuffling behind me and I'm quick to remove the small dagger from my satchel, a gift Lord Rhodon had given me for my birthday. I hold it tight in my hand, my heart thrumming in my ears, my throat cramping. I remained in the light of the windows.
Some sight was better than none.
"Trust me." The voice is a threat and I feel a hard the ground slide beneath me, I crash to the ground, a hiss leaves my lip and I roll onto my back, just to feel the hard sting of a punch to the face and unconsciousness.
Lord Ventura stands before the King with bored eyes and tightly lined lips. The King watches the man with the same boring attitude, his hand holding onto his gold can as he leaned into his throne. "You stand before me. What is it?"
"Where is she?"
The king huffs through his nose, his gaze reflecting amusement, as Lord Ventura stands stiffer than a light post with a suppressed scowl. "I do not know."
"I ask that you do not lie." Ventura is quick to respond. You had gone missing several hours ago, Ventura had chalked it up to you and Cosmo being glued to each other's side, even if he, himself disliked it, but the prince, once the clock rang one, he was in his seat ready to discuss important matters, but you never returned.
"I am sure she is at the villa. Resting. I heard you worked her like a dog, and I am more than sure she wants more than a small break."
"She is allowed breaks when I give her breaks. She knows that better than anyone." Ventura emphasizes 'she' and 'give' every time he said it, crossing his arms and relaxing his posture. He exhales and inhales before looking at the king with unamused eyes.
"I ask that you give me permiss--"
"Denied." The King answers with a blank look and Ventura physically bites his tongue, forcing himself from retaliating. He swallows his blood, ignoring the pain in his tongue.
"I ask for a simple search of the dungeons. That is all."
"And I have answered you. You have been denied and you cannot return for two days. Rhodon can do any work that needs to be without you." Ventura says not another word before curtly bowing and turning on his heel and leaving the ground with a scowl glued to his face. Settling that if you hadn't returned in two days, he would personally break all rules to retrieve you.
My headaches and a soft groan exit from my lips. My hands run over my face as I pull myself up, noticing I laid in a gigantic bed, with white satin sheets and dark violet covers. I realize I'm not at the villa or in a dungeon. The bed had a large canopy, with the thick white curtains pulled and trapping me in the space. I toss the blankets off me. I'm wearing the same clothes as before. I instantaneously crawl out of bed.
A shudder leaves my lips as I look around the large room. The door of the purple room opens and a boy with long white hair past his shoulders, almond-shaped blue eyes, and freckled skin. He holds a tray and is dressed casually.
He notices me before I could move. "Ah. You're awake. Forgive me for knocking you unconscious. I didn't know how else to get you secluded." He speaks as he places the tray on a circular table. My stomach grumbles and he motions me towards him. I don't move. He lets out an awkward cough and forced smile like it was unnatural for him.
"...I should introduce myself first. I am the third prince. Leo. I hope that you can trust me."
He radiates nothing but honesty, and I move toward him. Taking a seat he presented to me, he motions to the four triangular cut sandwiches and chips. I don't hesitate to start eating. Leo sits across from me and allows me to eat in silence for a few minutes before clearing his throat. "I guess I must tell you why I'm here. Well, for one, you found this journal--" He places the journal on the table, "and that a creature I had specifically been researching has laid its sights on you and you have made contact."
I stop eating and stare over at the boy. He looked a lot younger than me, yet he radiates authority.
"I don't know what you mean."
"I do not want to sound like a stalker, but I have been tracking you and believe you made contact with the creature. A creature tied directly to Leviathan, an S-ranked sea demon. While the creature you made contact with is A-rank."
The talk of ranks wasn't uncommon, but not something I ever concerned myself with. They were used to describe different types of creatures, those never in the context of sea demons, at least to my knowledge.
"You seem confused. The siren. The siren you and your friend ran to is Astrolia's possession. I ask that you not interfere with it."
"Astrolia possession...?"
Leo looks slightly annoyed, leaning over and crossing his arms. "Until I get an affirmative 'yes'. You aren't permitted to leave. You already gone snooping and learned too much about Astrolia and touching the things that belonged to me."
I don't want to stay, but if Leo learns about Maverick and the pact between us, I have no idea what I'd do. I could risk negotiations and if I fail, there will be no trying again. I breathe out slowly. "How about a deal?" I bounce my legs and watch Leo's face light up, so I continue.
"You're right... I snooped and ran into the siren. In turn, you tell no one of my involvement and help me with one other thing. I will give you the blood of the siren and give you a chance to see the siren in person..."
".... To see the Siren. Up close..." Leo's eyes nearly fall out of his head, and he nods, eagerly taking my head.
He truly was a child.