Book Edge Gilding Novels & Stories

Edward said as he slid over a dark blue jewelry box in my direction on the table. Well, this is pleasant surprise, I thought as I pulled the jewelry box towards me then lifting it up to open it. Inside was a gold necklace with a small star-shaped shiny pendant. The gold is real, and the shiny material is a star-shaped diamond, no need to ask. Star-shaped diamond are not common so Edward must have got this custom-made. “Thank you. It’s beautiful,” I told Edward with a smile. It was true the necklace was beautiful. “Can I put it on for you?” Edward asked as he got up to stand behind me.

This thing is ridiculously huge and heavy, it would be impossible to read it whilst standing. The entire cover is decorated with raised and embossed vines and leaves and the tarnished, gold gilded surface reflects the lamplight up at the ceiling. There are gems and stones scattered about representing flowers, and more spaced around the edges. My finger comes to rest in an indentation in the upper right hand corner. Something is missing. From the size and shape of the void I can take a pretty good guess at where it went. I have spent so long in his company there is no way I would miss the similarities between the indentation and the Moonstone Hunter wears around his neck.

Weaving through a couple more hallways, I stopped in front of two heavy doors with swirling engravings along the edges of the door that lead down to two golden door knobs at the center. "I saved the best for last, so I hope you like it." I momentarily released her hand to grab onto the handle and pushed both doors wide open, revealing the library's interior that I had custom-made for her. It was an extra-high ceiling room with bookshelves lining every inch of the lower wall and a second platform that led up to the upper wall that only held more bookshelves. Everything was carved out of pure wood with gold details along the edges to match the rest of the castle.

How didn't she see it before? She examined it. Its worn leather cover showed the test of time, revealing faint traces of intricate inscriptions that seemed to pulse with an otherworldly glow. For some reason, Thalia's heartbeat sped up in excitement. She traced the inscriptions on the book with her fingers. They were etched in silver and gold, and they formed a mesmerizing tapestry of arcane symbols.

Her thin, pale fingers reached behind her neck and unclasped a silver chain, revealing a polished emerald pendant. It was a rich green, smooth and warm against my skin, carrying a quiet, reassuring glow. With trembling hands, she fastened the chain around my neck. "This pendant was given to me by your grandmother, a blessing for a lifetime of peace. "I'm giving it to you now. I don’t wish for you to be rich or powerful—only to live a safe and peaceful life." There was sorrow in her gaze—the kind only a mother would have in her final moments, knowing she was about to leave her child behind.

I’m sure there’s a few here. I head to one shelf and reach for the worn blue spine with ‘Magic’ embossed in gold. But before my fingers brush the cover, another hand, much larger than mine, materializes beside it. Elijah.

She ran her fingers along the spines, the gold lettering cool against her skin. Drawn in by the sheer volume, she hesitantly pulled a book from the shelf, a slim volume bound in dark blue leather. The title was etched in silver: The Royal Grimoire of Sacred Oaths. She opened it, her eyes skimming the ornate calligraphy, the intricate diagrams filled with arcane symbols.

Tilting my head slightly, I trailed my fingers along the shelves as I walked, reading the titles printed in faded gold. Some of them looked centuries old while others looked like they were just fixed in the shelf. After walking for a while, I stopped out of curiosity. I was staring at a book wedged between two thick encyclopedias. Pulling it out, I allowed my fingers to trace it's edges. The book was heavier than it looked. The leather cover was worn out but it was smooth. There was no title, just a symbol that looked like a crescent. For some reasons my heart began to race as I flipped the first page open then turned to another page and another.

“What?” “Now you have somewhere to practice your writing.” “I-” “Just take a look before you say anything.” I lifted it out of the box, the leather smooth against my fingertips. “It has gold edges,” I gasped, running my pinky along its sides. “Yeah, since gold seems to come up again and again, between the melody stone and Lyra’s necklace and the memory spell, I figured that was quite fitting.” I couldn’t even start processing the fact that he had put that much thought into getting me a notebook, because my eyes landed on the small booklet that had been hidden in the box under the journal. “Wait. Wait. Are those- Did you get me personalized page flags?”

Because of meaning. The elderly keeper approached the pedestal slowly. With respect. With affection. With the care one might show an old friend. Then he turned toward me. And smiled. "You've been looking for this your entire life." Silence. The crew looked between us. Hope looked especially interested. Dangerous. Very dangerous. I stepped closer. Heart racing unexpectedly. The book appeared ancient. Bound in silver and gold leather. Its cover worn smooth by countless hands. No title. No decoration. Only a small lantern embossed at the center.