The Librarian Novels & Stories

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 later added as a remark, only to see him smiling a little more. "I can see why Beta Alexander is fond of you." The librarian added as he shook his head. There was something in his eyes, flickering under the pale glow of the reading area. Amusement was it? I couldn't put a finger on it. Before I could inquire about it, he continued. "You should leave this mess for us. Some of the students come here in afterhours to work. Let me have something for them to work for."

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.

He starts the engine and drives off. I look around the huge library. The books are in a different section while the quiet room where books are read are in a different section as well. I am lucky that there are not much people here. I walk to a young dark skin gentle man who is at the other side of the counter, he seems to be the librarian. He stands to his feet and walk to the counter and rests his hand on the counter as he waits for me to speak. “Ancient”, is all I can say to avoid looking like a fool.