The Librarian Novels & Stories

Danger. I turned. And there she was. The librarian. Standing at the door, her frail frame outlined by the torchlight. Her eyes wide, mouth parted in shock. I stiffened, caught mid-theft like a pup with blood on his muzzle. “Well,” I said dryly, closing the book with exaggerated calm. “This is awkward.” Her lips trembled. “W-who are you? What are you doing...” I lifted a hand. “Shhh. I’m the friendly neighborhood bookworm. Here to… improve my literacy.”

Her dark hair was tied up in a knot, strands falling loose around her face, I could tell she hadn’t slept in days. “Huh?” “You’re holding it upside down,” she repeated, sliding down the ladder. She plucked the tome from my arms with ease. “You’ll crack the spine if you don’t know what you’re doing.” Judging by the way she moved like she owned the place, I decided she must be the Librarian. I bristled, “I’m sorry, but it’s not my fault of your books are out to murder me.” “Wow,” she said, her mouth twitching in an almost-smile “The Luna, single-handedly destroying centuries-old texts. That’s definitely one way to cement your legacy, usually they just sit for po

. Even sitting down, he loomed over the table. He set his glass down, his movements surprisingly graceful for a man of his size."It started four years ago," he said, his voice a low rumble that I could feel in my chest. "At that SPCA auction. You didn't know I was watching, but I saw you spend three hours on the floor with that terrified Great Dane. Everyone else was networking, trying to get my attention, but you... you were just there for the dog. You didn't even care that you were ruining a two-thousand-dollar suit."He leaned in, his shadow stretching across the entire table."It’s not just lust, Charles. It’s the fact that you’re the only person I’ve met who has a spine made of steel and

“This book.” She showed him the book, its old texture threatening to break apart. The librarian looked at the book with interest. “We do have old books in this library, but never one so old.” Odessa was getting desperate. She needed to know what was happening to her. “At least check around. You may see a newer version of this book,” she pleaded. The librarian shook his head. His eyes absolute. “I know every book in this library. As large as it looks,” he widened his arms for a more dramatic effect to his words, “but I've never seen any book this old.”

"Again, I'm afraid I'll have to refuse. I'm busy during the day, working at the library." Dummy. Of course I did. In fact, Lia had read all about her and knew the woman had been recently appointed as head librarian. But maybe she could spend some time there. It might even be a better place to approach her and engage her in conversation. "Excuse me." The woman behind Lia nudged her. "There are still some of us waiting to get our books signed. "Oh. Yes." Lia glanced over her shoulder and flashed an apologetic smile. "Sorry." But still she stood there, unwilling to move away yet.

Our librarian said angrily to us. "No, ma'am. We are not fighting..." Dark Louiz answered and I spoke next to our librarian who was standing in front of us. "Excuse me, ma'am, what he said is really true. The two of us are not fighting. The two of us are just talking. It's really hard to find that book, so I can't find it," I lied to our librarian who looked angry. She was about to eat us alive.

I raised my head up quickly at the sound of my name. “ I am. ” I stood up as the librarian scrutinized me. She was the new librarian, Lucy Wenford, a British American. Too beautiful to be unmarried but rumor has it that she was more interested in women. “ Okay. ” She gave me a look of pity before walking away to her desk which was at the far end of the library. For the first time, I was thankful I had company and super thankful that I stayed in a seat, too far away from the watchful eyes of the librarian.

“I’ll let it go this once. The next time you come to me with such dangerous questions, you will be duly punished. Library etiquette. Your hands must be sanitised with that special mix over there before you touch any book, and any one you intend to take out of here must be registered with me.” She spins around and marches to the high backed seat, plopping herself into it. She’s the librarian? The woman is an enigma, her words confuse me, as she does herself. What was that about my self-destruction? A curse or just the ramblings of an old woman?