Questions About A Book Novels & Stories

Day seven, while we were studying, voice perfectly casual, eyes on his textbook. I write them all down. Every question Cole Ravencrest has asked me since he sat across from me in the library with coffee and a story about his sister. There are eleven questions. They span two weeks. Individually, each one is the kind of thing a new friend might ask a girl who arrived at a supernatural academy with no history and unusual power. The kind of thing someone might ask out of genuine curiosity and growing affection. Together, in sequence, on a napkin in my handwriting, they form something else entirely.

I asked as I took the old, heavy book that reminded me of the old dictionaries they had in elementary school. “It’s a book about mythical creatures. I have books about specific species, but this one is a basic accounting of them and a few of the highlights.” “Is it accurate?” I asked, wondering if it were something I could pick up at a local bookstore or if it were something he had to get from some sort of black-market underground or something. “I wouldn’t give it to you if it weren’t,” he said, then turned toward the kitchen. “So, what are you making?” I asked, wondering if he was a master of the microwave or if he was putting a pizza in the oven.

I ask, completely confused. "The book. Hidden edges."

Aurora's cheeks flushed pink in embarrassment. "This book is all about the wars?", she asked, trying to change the subject. "Yes ma'am. So, you can start reading through it. If you have any questions or problems just call my name. I need to try and find the book we need for your mark", I explained, biting the last word.

William asked after seeing the light frown on Emily's face. Emily shook her head and replied, "no, not really. I just seemed to have forgotten the question that I had to ask you." She looked up at William and caught sight of a small picture at the front cover of the book that he was reading. She pointed to the book and asked, "what is the book that you are reading though?" "Oh, this old thing?" He laughed and closed the book shut. "It is just some old story on spells and witches and the rest. Nothing that would interest you."

“I found this book outside. It has all the answers.” I furrow my eyebrows together. “What are you talking about, Alex?” His attention turns back to the weathered book in his hands. He flips through the pages until he finds the one he’s looking for. “Look at this.” He hands the book to me. I scan the words, latching onto the ones at the very top. How To Kill A Vampire. Suspicion descends over me. “Alex, are you sure this is even real? It sounds a little made-up.”

he suggested. “In case you might have forgotten…before reading, there is the finding part. So…how do you suggest we find them?” He looked at her closely, “you are asking the wrong questions…again.” She closed the book and placed it on the table, “and the right questions would be? Enlighten me if you may please…” Adjusting his sitting posture, “Who removed the pages and why did they remove them. These are the questions you should be asking,” he responded. She picked the glass of blood, “as for the why…we both know. Unless you have something about the ‘who part’…I am listening.”

I asked, touching a particular thick book. “That one’s about bloodline history,” he said when I held it up. “It was written by a half-mad seer,” he added. His answers were brief, but still it felt like a conversation. I wanted to continue, so I grabbed a book tucked behind the others. The book was so old it looked like it had survived a fire. Its edges were burnt, and blackened. The title had long faded away, and the cover was cracked with age. “What about this one?” I asked, pointing to it without touching. “Why are you keeping it?”

She held her breath and stared at his chest, refusing to look into his eyes, afraid of what she would see smouldering there. The person outside was going through the boxes and stuff outside, looking for them? The vault must truly have been connected to his essence, regardless of how dangerous that was in itself. He was basically leaving a piece of himself out there for anybody if they needed it. “The book.” She whispered. “What is it about?” She asked him. “It’s a book of answers.” He replied. “To what?” “To questions.” He replied and she rolled her eyes. “I went to so much trouble to get it for you, and you won’t tell me anything about it at all!” She asked, incredulous.

She moved to another aisle and I followed behind. Then she asked again, “What's the book about? Do you remember?” “Yes, it's about elementals and how to master the four elements,” I responded and she stopped in her tracks and turned swiftly to face me. “Not many people come here looking for a book like that, why do you want a book like that?” She asked, her expression displayed confusion. I simply said, “I need it to master the elements.” She tilted her head to the side, and just like she realized something, her eyes grew wider.