Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 85029 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 425(@200wpm)___ 340(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85029 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 425(@200wpm)___ 340(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
I reach over and take her hand, lacing our fingers together. “Actually… it’s all been pretty fucked up since the beginning, Syrsee. And I’m not talking about that night in White River when all you wanted was a cheeseburger and found yourself a vampire instead.”
“Ham sandwich.”
“What?”
“I think I was craving a ham sandwich that night.”
I smile, shaking my head at her. “The point is, it was never OK. It was always a lie. And I’m only speaking for me here, but I’d rather know the truth than live a lie.” I nod my head at the general store. Sitting right there in front of us. Waiting for a decision. “I’d rather face it head on than hide away, pretending.”
Syrsee blinks at me. “We don’t have souls, Ryet.”
“I don’t think we ever had souls, Syrsee. And if we did, they certainly never belonged to us. So as far as I see it, nothing’s changed. We’re here. Not back in the dirt. And I don’t know if we’re alive or what this really is, but it’s real enough for me. So we’re not gonna give up. We’re gonna live. Because we’re gonna go in there”—I nod my head to the store again—“and we’re gonna tell whoever’s in charge that I will cooperate. And we’re gonna go to that Guild place and you’re gonna read the books and find us a cure.”
She’s not convinced, and neither am I. But part of this new reality we’re living in is faith, I think.
Because faith that this is possible is the only way we win.
Belief is a powerful motivator.
“OK?” I ask her.
She thinks about things for a few more moments. There are only two choices. Go inside and face the truth so we might beat it. Or drive away and live in ignorance, sure to fail. So it wasn’t a real question I was asking, just a way for her to see the two paths clearly. And she does. Because she says, “OK.”
I give her hand one more squeeze, kiss it as I look her in the eyes, then we let go of each other and get out of the truck.
We spend a few more seconds looking up at that flickering sign, then we walk forward to the door and I pull it open. There was never any doubt in my mind that the door was unlocked. And it is. A bell jingles as we pass through. Then Syrsee leads me through the back and into a hallway. We turn a corner and at the end of the hall there is a door made of frosted glass and a shadow can be seen pacing on the other side of it.
Suddenly the shadow turns towards us, then the door is opening.
A man. Tristin, I think. But I’ve never met him, so I can’t be sure until Syrsee introduces him.
“Tristin, this is Ryet.” She looks at me and smiles. “This is Tristin. He’s on our side.” Then she directs her gaze to him again. “You said if we come together, we’ll be safe and I will be allowed to read the books.”
“That’s correct.” Tristin says this very seriously, looking Syrsee directly in the eyes. “Come home, Syrsee, and we will protect you.” Now he adjusts his gaze to me. “You as well, if you need it. But just so we’re all clear here—nothing is free as far as you’re concerned. They want to study you. So if you come and accept our protection, you’re agreeing to that. Do you understand?”
This is the proper place to stop and gather up all the details, thoroughly sort through them, and make informed decisions. But there’s no other way forward. So whatever the Guild wants from me in exchange for Syrsee’s safety, I will give it to them. So I nod my head. “I understand.”
Tristin exhales. Like he was holding his breath. And his smile is immediate and big. Like he just won a prize.
And I guess he did.
A Black witch and a vampire—two very rare creatures indeed.
He opens the door wider, inviting us into the lounge. We enter and follow him through another door, down a hallway, and then we stop at the end in front of a blank wall.
He says some words in a language I don’t speak, and then the wall turns into a mist. Not purple, not gold, but silver. And slowly, the mist is replaced with an entrance to a massive room, empty of people, but filled with books. Hundreds of thousands of books.
He brought us right to the library.
Tristin walks through and I start to follow, but Syrsee pulls on my hand, stopping me. “What the hell is this?” She’s looking up at Tristin.
“You want the books? The books are yours. And you’ve got a lot to learn, Syrsee. So let’s get started.”
Epilogue - Paul
It was worth it.