Harvard Yenching Library Novels & Stories

Caitlin sat in the Beinecke Rare Book Library on the Yale campus, hunched over the Voynich manuscript, a librarian standing discreetly over her shoulder, hands clasped, waiting, watching over her. Caitlin reached out, latex gloves on, and studied the book, fingering each page gently.

A pang of thought for Liam and how much he would have loved to explore the place was fleeting as I stopped, out of breath, and stared into the perfectly normal-looking, if massive and oppressive, foyer leading into the main library. The coolest part about Harvard was how both witches and normal students and faculty were able to co-exist. Most buildings had a magic component of some kind to them, specifically for my kind, off limits to normals. But for the most part, including the cafeteria and some of the classes, we mingled together like we were all one big, happy campus.

As he straightened his cufflinks, he cut his voice and added, "Don't wait up." I said, "I won't," already preparing my next move. I opened my laptop as soon as he was gone and looked up the Harrington archives. The searches directed me to a Midtown private library that needed special access to enter. I was uncertain if I would even be permitted entry, but my curiosity was burning brightly within me. An hour later, I was standing outside the imposing structure, which had elaborate carvings on its stone facade. The smell of polish and old paper filled the air within. As I walked up to the counter, a grim-faced librarian gave me a dubious look.