Chapter 13: Nine digits!?

~ Lumiére's POV ~

The car screeched to a stop and Lumiére exited, his feet carrying him towards the building as if on autopilot. He had only meant to watch her enter the library and then continue on his way, but something had compelled him to follow her.

As Lumiére made his way up the stairs to the State University library, he couldn't help but feel a sense of guilt. "What are you doing Lumiére? You should be on your way to the General council meeting," he berated himself. But despite his inner turmoil, he couldn't resist the pull that had been tugging at him for weeks.

He had been avoiding Raven, trying to push her out of his mind, but the more he tried to forget her, the more he found himself thinking about her. She was like a poison, intoxicating and dangerous, and he couldn't stay away.

As he approached the entrance to the library, he saw her. She was walking past the shelves in the ground floor, looking as beautiful as ever. He hesitated for a moment, wondering if he should appr