Kuroshitsuji: Book Of Circus Novels & Stories

No one has been here in years. I walk to the nearest shelf and pull out a book. Shadowfang Pack Records: Year 47 to Year 89. Too old. I put it back. The Lineage of Eastern Wolf Packs. Not helpful. Bloodlines and Curses: A History. I freeze. Curses. I pull the book off the shelf. It is heavy. The leather cover is cracked. The pages are yellow and brittle. I carry it to the table and open it. The first page shows a drawing. A symbol. A crescent moon wrapped around a broken crown.

“Why do you sound like someone who doesn’t plan to return?” I gave a small smile. “We’ll win,” Kavira said firmly. “And you’ll be there beside her, won’t you?” I nodded. “Of course.” Then, from my cloak, I pulled out the Living Book, its cover still warm and pulsing faintly with magic. I handed it to the Siora. “Keep this safe. For Vireya.” She took it slowly, cradling it like a child, her eyes shining with sorrow. By evening, the sun had dipped below the horizon, casting an eerie glow across the sky, the last remnants of the blood moon still lingering like a curse. We had surrounded the packs from every direction. There would be no escape.

He was eagerly looking towards her, urging with his eyes that she get up and follow the group back into the library. Katalea stood, it was time to see what all the fuss was about. They stood in a circle around Luca, who donned medical gloves that stopped at the elbow. He reached into the glass case that housed the book and before he could attempt to open the book, the front page fell open, revealing an ornate depiction of an old robbed man with a staff. He had a long gray beard, braided down his chest, and weather-beaten skin hidden mostly beneath his tattered and layered robe. His blue eyes leapt off the page imploring the reader to inquire further. Or perhaps run away. Katalea wasn’t

Lucretia's eyebrows were frowned. "The little girl is very insightful," the Green Sky Python looked at the four people in front of him with interest. "Don't be surprised, Lucretia can be said to be an encyclopedia of magical beasts, and within four years, memorized all of the Creeping Magical Beasts, Flying Magical Beasts, and King Magical Beasts" Sasuke didn't say it was okay to say it Lilith and Sasuke were even more surprised to know that just a few of these types of books accounted for one hundred thousand and thirty-three thousand copies of the book!

Magic pulsed from the pages like a heartbeat. And staring right at me? A title written in old, curling ink: “Luna of the Cursed Moon” I blinked. Nope. No thank you. I wanted a self-care spell, not a prophecy. I tried to turn the page—except the book bit me. “No. Ohhh no. We are NOT doing this fate-destiny-cosmic-mate nonsense. I just cleaned up a glitter chicken with sass issues!” But too late. Magic curled from the page like smoke, surrounding me, whispering…

Lore of Elm" from Ryzinka?" The name Ryzinka felt familiar to me, as if I've been there before, so I nodded my head. "I see. But... The book is cursed. Do you still want it?" His question sounded almost like a joke to me. I started to crack open my lower jaw to form a ghoulish smile, the way I always do to my victim before indulging them into an endless nightmare. The man looked fascinated by the opening of my lower jaw. "So you're trying to tell me that you are also cursed, huh?"

The moment my fingertips touched the carving— The world disappeared. Blood. So much blood. White wolves knelt in enormous stone circles. Hundreds of them. Priestesses. Each wore flowing crimson robes instead of white. A woman stood before them. Her hair was completely white. Except for crimson streaks running through it like fire. Her eyes... They were mine. She smiled sadly. "The last daughter has come." I couldn't move. Couldn't breathe. She walked toward me. "You have waited long enough." "Who are you?"

He must have come during his short break, not even bothering to change out of his royal attire. Beneath the cloak, his gold-inlaid armor gleamed faintly under the soft light, every engraved pattern glowing with a muted, refined sheen. I could hear the faint, rhythmic clink of metal with each movement he made, low, steady like the heartbeat of a man whose heart had long turned to steel. A silver ring shaped like a crescent moon encircled his finger, catching the light and sending a shiver through me. It was the royal seal of the Lycan King, the mark of one who commanded thousands and the symbol of eternal solitude.

The room filled with a blinding light, and I shielded my eyes. When the glow subsided, I blinked, staring at the pages before we held open in Uncle Lucifer’s hands. The pages were filled with symbols, diagrams, and cryptic text. Millie stepped closer, as I stayed close to her. “What does the book say?” she asked looking at the large leather book. Lucifer’s eyes glowed with an otherworldly purple light as he read aloud: “The Cult of Draconis Cor.” Uncle Lucifer said in a low rumbling growl.

“Yes, My Lord. We also made a discovery. It appears that her return to Crescent Moon Pack has something to do with a book named Codex Lunaris. It seems like there she has a connection with the book, maybe it has to do with her powers.” Codex Lunaris. I hadn’t heard of such a name before. To be honest the book and what it contains didn’t seem to bother me, what bothered me was the fact that she was sharing a room with Rowan. I pictured Rowan’s hands on her waist, his mouth on her throat, her fingers tangled in his hair while she whispered his name the way she used to whisper mine. My claws lengthened without permission as they scraped grooves into the oak. The curse purred in approval.