The Librarian Novels & Stories

“Oh my God… Sam said yes!” Tasha and Marian leaned in, staring at the live stream. “She’s engaged?” Marian gasped. Naomi tapped another clip. “Right in the quad—look at all those people!” A stern Librarian emerged from between the shelves.“Excuse me,” he said quietly, but firmly. “This is a library. If you’re not here to read or study, please leave the hall.” Naomi flushed and tucked her phone away. “Sorry, sir. Of course.”

The woman stood behind the podium; her old, but unworked hands, smoothing out the precious pages. “Welcome to my library,” The woman said, her eyes flashing to them. “Can I help you find something?” The librarian had a reputation about her, stories whispered on sleepless nights. Her name was Claudia, and she had been in the library for as long as anyone could remember. Claudia’s book held more than the location of library books; it was said to hold every answer imaginable. The volume was magic; so much so that it was a part of the woman’s soul, and only she could read its pages. To every other eye, it was completely and utterly blank.

Sitting behind it was an elderly man with thin glasses perched precariously on the bridge of his nose. "Good day, sir," Zayla said, leaning against the counter with a warm smile. "I'm looking to lose myself in a few volumes today." The old man lowered his gaze, his eyes shifting from her to the imposing, mysterious figure cloaked in absolute darkness standing right behind her. A heavy silence filled the space between them. "I have never seen your face in this community before," the librarian said, his voice laced with instant suspicion. "Well, that's because I'm relatively new to your beautiful streets..."she trailed off, trying to keep her tone light.

The lift carried me to the fourth floor. I walked the corridors with deliberate purpose, keeping my head down. Through swing doors, I caught glimpses of the newsroom—desks cluttered with paper, phones ringing, voices overlapping. Every so often, my leg stiffened, locking momentarily before swinging forward again, as though braced in a splint. The librarian was in her sixties, with dyed hair and half-moon glasses hanging from a chain around her neck. A rubber thimble covered her thumb, used for turning pages. Her desk was surrounded by an unlikely collection of cacti.

Thirty seconds later, the room was silent again, save for the hiss of the gas. "All pages sent," The Glitch said, her voice dropping to a whisper. "The Librarian’s accounts are being frozen by his own investors. He’s officially a liability, Alessandro. He’s 'red' on every board in the world." Alessandro walked back to the terminal and grabbed the "Bridge." He didn't look at the fallen men. He looked at the hole in the wall he had made. "Caro, get to the extraction point," Alessandro said. "The Librarian is no longer the auditor. He’s the one being audited."

Just how many people are curious enough about vampires that they read about it, watch shows about it, and could determine that I belong to that kind just by one look at me? There was a tap on my shoulder. “Miss, I will be closing the library soon. Better collect your things and go home”. Oh, it was the librarian. I gave her a nod and started putting the books that I borrowed back on the shelves, hiding the one about vampires in my chest in the process. *

I’ll meet you there. Tucking the phone back into my jean pockets, I opened the door. There was a little ding as I walked through. The librarian, an old woman that happened to have the neatest perm I had ever seen, looked up from her reading, little glasses perched on her nose. “Hello, darling.” She greeted, a kind smile on her face. With hair so white, I could only imagine she was probably in her 50’s or 60’s. “How may I help you?”

Eric said and laughed while I rolled my eyes and walked towards the library. “Why the hell are we going into the library?” Eric asked me. “What time is it?” I asked him. “Ah 3 and…” He glanced at his watch and added. “So it’s time for the library to get close, right? What about the librarian?” I asked him. “Ellen. She has just got the job here. That hotness would be leaving the library anytime now… She is so… Hot and seductive, I tell you” Eric said and chuckled.

A slow smile lights up her face and she nods, preening lightly, “Well, I was going to say congratulations, on the Moon Jubilee. It was spectacular, and there’s really no other word for it.” I smile indulgently, “Thank you very much. I’m glad everyone enjoyed it.” She nods and looks away, this time with a slight blush coloring her cheeks, “I also wanted to ask if I could help you with what you’re looking for. Is it a work of fiction or some bit of pack history? I’m the assistant librarian, and we barely get anyone in the library lately, except for the random few of course.” I heave a breath of relief when I hear that because hells, I was starting to get a little bit frustrated.

“This is the narrowed selection?” The librarian nods at me, giving us both an eager smile. “Thank you,” Roger says, smiling back at her warmly. “I’ll be here if you need me,” the librarian says, gesturing towards the desk at the head of the room. “But please, make yourself at home. Just…” she hesitates, looking between us. “Please no…food or drink…around the books.” “We promise,” Roger says, giving her the most charming smile I’ve ever seen from him. “We’ll protect the books at all costs. No sticky fingers here.” The librarian blushes, then giggles, and scurries away.