The Secret Library Sofia The First Novels & Stories

“I mean… does she have any secret that you know about?” Mother thought for a moment. “I don’t know much. But… she always talked about a CD player that hol ds most of her secrets.” Sofia and I froze. Our eyes met instantly. Then we both looked down at the CD in Sofia’s hand.

~Harper~ Sofia's in the living room folding laundry when I corner her, and she looks up quick with that nervous glance she always has now like she's expecting Elias to jump out from behind the couch or something, and she whispers that she managed to copy a few files onto this tiny thumb drive when she was in his office pretending to dust the bookshelves yesterday, said she waited until he stepped out for a call and plugged it in fast, grabbed what looked important before he came back, and now she's handing it to me under a folded towel like we're in some spy movie.

"No wonder he insisted on divorce—who could tolerate a betrayal like that?" I raised a hand for silence, my gaze settling on Victoria's ashen face. Pointing to the structural diagram of the sofa on the screen, I said, "The base of this sofa was hollowed out and fitted with a hidden compartment—just large enough to conceal an adult man." My lawyer immediately initiated a video call, the camera switching to my living room. On screen, a worker demonstrated the mechanism. With a press of a concealed latch on the armrest, the base slowly lifted, revealing a storage space over four feet deep.

"It’s beautiful, Mia. Is that the fountain?" "It’s the fountain," she said, her voice growing a tiny bit stronger. "But the water is gold in my drawing. Because that’s where the secrets are hidden." I felt a sharp, sweet ache in my chest. "I think you’re right." The peace was shattered by the heavy, rhythmic clack of heels on marble. The double doors swung open, and Sofia, a junior maid with a permanent sneer and a reputation for being the eyes and ears of the head housekeeper, marched in. She was carrying a tray with a bowl of cold-looking oatmeal and a glass of lukewarm water.

"Mavric, if we don't open it now, Eleanor or the other 'Architects' will return. “We need to know what they are hiding before they use this secret to destroy us again." Mavric let out a long sigh and nodded. They approached the massive bookshelf in the corner of the room. According to the hidden instructions in Sofia’s diary, the mechanism was triggered not by a book, but by weight and sound frequency. Liora inserted the key into a small slot hidden behind a bronze lion statue. Greeeeek... The giant bookshelf slid open slowly, revealing a spiral staircase descending into total darkness. The smell of stale air mixed with formalin and iron greeted them.

Aziza asked sarcastically. “More like giving you a taste of your own medicine right? You think everyone think like you? Anyways, Jazakallahu khayr.” Aziza said and dump the gift she brought on Sadiqah stretched hands which caught her by surprise and before she know what had just happened, Aziza was on her way to back to her apartment. “Ungrateful woman.” Sadiqah said and slammed the door behind her, she opened the gift and saw a neatly home made cookies and a bottle of yogurt

My eyes were still locked on the doorway Cara had just disappeared through. Sofia followed my gaze, then said it in a dissatisfied tone. "Let's go to your study." In my study, she leaned against my desk, twirling a strand of her hair. Her eyes wandered over the bookshelves behind me. Sofia pulled out a book and read the title. “This book is rare and beyond its value. I've been longing for it ever since I noticed it on your shelf..Now the author, Cela, is having a fan meeting soon. I want to take an out-of-print book to get it signed.” She smiled. “Could you give me this one.”

Maya just said, "Holy shit. You could get lost in here and not even mind." Sofia glowed. "Isn’t it beautiful? I come in here sometimes just to smell the air. Paper, salt, dust. There’s nothing like it." I traced a finger along a shelf of first editions. Many of them were in languages I didn’t know. "Are these all Levi’s?" Sofia shrugged. "Some are his. Some have been here longer than any of us. If you see one with the spine cracked and notes in the margins, that’s probably mine."

"Stop been a bitch." "What did you just say." I scoff. "You want to die." "It would be my pleasure." He scowls, crossing his arms around his broad, not too masculine chest. "Sush it people." The librarian scolds, and we both snap our mouths shut. Idiotic scum. Giving him a pointed look, I walk to a far end table near a glass window. Now what shall we read first, the shadow, or Secrets. Let's pick. "I will take that one if I were you." Jordan points at Secrets. "It look steamy hot."

Freya’s POV I stood amid dusty books and scrolls in the peaceful library of the pack. I could feel the weight of all the forgotten secrets in the room, and the air was heavy with ancient wisdom. I ran my fingers over the leather-bound books, looking for anything that may help us beat Sophia. Then I discovered it an ancient, worn parchment tucked away in the back of a shelf. Something about it appealed to me, even though the ink was hardly readable. I felt my heart pound as I unfolded it.