After contemplating the matter for a few minutes, I decided against it. It would complicate things further, and I didn't need any more complications. I had more than enough on my plate to keep me occupied, as it was.
" So what are your plans for today?" I decided to focus my attention on something else before, I drove myself insane.
Enid hummed," Let's see," She paused, pensive," Well, nothing interesting, I'm afraid. I have a few errands to run, that will most likely take most of the morning. Grocery shopping, after and that is my day. Would you like to join me?" I knew Enid managed the household, but I had no idea that it took her so much time to do it.
" I can go to the market if you'd like," I offered as I stood up to clear my plate.
" I like going to the market. How about you have some rest, and I'll come and get you when I'm done."Enid offered an alternative, as she ate her porridge at a snail's pace.
" Alright," I agreed, turning around to face her. Even though, I was able to be myself around Enid, there were still, a lot of things, I couldn't reveal to her. I did want to tell her everything. I knew she would be able to help with advice, which, I desperately needed. However, at the same time, the magnitude of my actions would change the nature of our relationship. And that, it was something I wasn't quite ready to face.
" If you need me, I'll be in the library for a few hours," I said as I pushed myself off the counter. Until I found Celeste, the library was my only source of knowledge and I planned on making full use of the one in Northenhay.
" Alright dear," Enid hummed, munching on her mouthful.
Still very much in a twist, I slowly made my way down the corridor, trying to understand why Mason had offered to take me with him to the party, and the riding school. Even though, I had no intention of going.
Figuring out what exactly was he trying to achieve, had me doing rounds inside my head, like never before.
Exasperated, I pushed the library door opened, and sighed. It could wait, I needed to focus all my attention on finding some answers.
The library was well stocked with a wide range of books covering various areas of study. I wasn't quite sure who they belonged to, since some of them dated back hundreds of years.
Searching for a needle in a haystack would have been easier to find, than a book on the occult.
After spending most of my morning climbing up and down the ladder, I had come up with bobbkis. There wasn't not even one single book covering the occult arts.
Defeated, I plopped myself in the armchair, trying to come to terms with the failure of my endeavour. I still had Celeste.
Since Enid was making use of the car for the day, I wasn't able to visit Morston Quarter for another day.
Dejected, I closed my eyes trying to remember anything that I might miss at first glance while I was roaming in the white plains. After, a few moments I felt something tickle the tip of my nose so I opened my eyes to see what it was.
To my surprise, on my nose, gently fluttering his wings was none other than the same butterfly I saw the day Mason ended our affair.
Up close he was even more majestic, and beautiful. I had no idea if he was a he.
" Hello little one," I whispered in an attempt not to scare him away. At that point, he was the only one I could talk to, even though he couldn't understand.
Surprisingly for such a fragile creature, he bravely stood on my nose, looking straight at me.
" If you could only speak," I softly sighed, marvelling at the endeavouring little insect. To my dismay, it was a one-sided conversation.
So, with that I poured my soul, telling him about all my troubles. Everything that was happening to me, while he gently fluttered his wings as he rested on my nose.
Pushed by curiosity, I raised my hand to touch him, just as I did that day. Startled, he opened his big blue wings and flew away before my finger could reach him.
I followed him with my eyes hoping he would settle, somewhere within reach. Unfortunately for me, he'd settled on one of the top shelves of the bookshelves.
So, he wasn't the product of drug-induced hallucinations. He was something else. At that thought, I pushed myself off the armchair and climbed the ladder, stealthier than a panther on a hunt. I needed to touch him to confirm my suspicions. If he was a result of what was happening to me, then that would take me a step closer to solving the mystery.
When finally reached the final step, I slowly stretched my arm, trying to reach for the butterfly, but unfortunately, he was out of my reach.
" Crap," I cursed under my breath and looked down. The ceiling-high shelves weren't in my favour. Moving the ladder was out of the question. He would startle, and fly away.
I threw caution into the wind and put my foot on one of the shelves, in an attempt to get closer.
Inching closer, I finally brushed the tip of his wing with my fingertip, and with that he turned into a small cloud of shimmering dust that floated in the air, sparkling in the light of the midday sun.
It was beautiful, and I found myself completely captived by the beautiful scene unfolding before me. I did that. I wonder what else I was capable of.
" Lily. What are you doing?" Enid peevishly asked, bringing me back to the earthly plain. Oho. I was in trouble.
" Uhmmm," I threw my eyes, at the books and saw something that I hadn't noticed when I looked on that shelf. It was thin, and so worn out that the writing was completely faded.
I pulled on the reddish book and wiggled it in front of me.
" I was trying to get this," I casually said as I slowly took my foot off the shelf, to put back on the ladder. Enid's frown was more than enough to let me know that she wasn't exactly pleased.
" It didn't cross your mind to just move the cursed ladder. Are trying to get yourself killed," Enid admonished as I climbed down the ladder.
" No. I'm fine. Look at me. Still in one piece," I amusedly said, jumping off the mile-long ladder, to skip the last few steps," See," I twirled in front of her, trying to prove my point.
" Don't ever do that to me. My entire life flashed before my eyes." Enid scolded further, as she snatched the book out of my hand, and opened it with furrowed brows.
" I can promise not to do it again," I amusedly said and craned my neck to have a look at, what was written in the book.