James Linniad and the Golden City by Caleb Baker (the best novels to read .TXT) 📕

"Let's check here first," James said as he extended an arm to open the door to the sunroom. 

This room was well lit, or at least the best it could have been for no actual light. The curtains on the windows were moved back so the moonlight could squeeze through the frames. A sofa was placed adjacent to the door and it was pushed back against the wall. Bookcases lined the sides of the room, and a large candelabra sat on a circular table in front of the couch. 

"Where do we start?" Lucas asked, coming to the shoulder of James.  

"Juliet, will you light the candles please?" James asked. 

She happily obliged, kneeling on the hand embroidered rug underneath the table. She began setting the candles as Alice walked over to the bookcase, notebook in hand. 

"This place looks promising," she said as she picked a book off of the shelf and began perusing. 

"Hmm. . ." James answered her, lost in thought.     

Things were starting to get serious. James needed to fulfill the Prophecy, he felt it was all somehow connected to what happened to his brother and his dream. He had to find the answers, it was the only way to make sense of everything. 

"What do you think it is?" Juliet asked pensively once she finished lighting the candelabra, "the Prophecy, I mean."

"I'm imagining something small," Lucas began, "like a trinket, or like something right out of a movie."

"I'm imagining something quite the contrary," Alice said gently, "like a door, or secret passage."

James's mind went back to the rubies and chests of gold, he felt it best not to announce his imaginations. He stalked his way over to one of the sunroom windows, and yanked back a curtain to see the storm. The wind was wreaking havoc outside the walls of the castle. Flurries of snow were now blanketing the windows, encasing them with their icy crystals. His breath was forming a fog on the window, and he swiped a finger across it before turning around to his friends. 

"I don't think it's here," he stated. 

"I was coming to that conclusion myself," Alice said blankly as she jotted down a few more notes before looking up at James. 

"How do you know, we haven't even searched," Juliet asked. 

"I just have a feeling," James explained. 

"A feeling . . ." Lucas repeated to himself. 

There was moment of silence between the group. Alice led everyone out of the room and into the hallway, where she stopped and waited for James to resume his role as leader, since he was the one who knew the castle the best. 

"Where to next?" Lucas asked, breaking up the moment. 

It took James a minute to realize that he was being talked to. 

"I think I have an idea," he murmured, "it's this way."    

James led them back into the castle hallway. He looked right and saw the other doors down the corridor, but those weren't his destination, he had another in mind. His father's study had to be where they kept it, whatever it was, James thought. It made the most sense. His father had what they were looking for, and it would have naturally been the last place they would have searched, if James hadn't thought of it.     

"This place is really creepy," Juliet squeaked from the back of the quo. 

"It just looks creepy because the power is still out," Alice said matter-of-factly.     

They were now standing in the office. It was brightly lit. Fresh candles were burning in all the corners of the room. James strode further into the room, careful not to make any noise, he didn't know why.      Somebody had definitely been here, and not too long ago. Papers cluttered the floor, drawers were shaken ajar, and a lamp was strewn across his father's desk. James looked back at his group. Juliet had her arms crossed, as if she was warming herself up. Lucas had his left hand on the golden brass doorknob, while Alice still had her notebook in hand and was jotting down more notes. 

"What is it?" Lucas asked. 

"Someone has been here, my guess is probably a couple hours ago, while we were sleeping," James answered as he picked the lamp off the desk. 

"Yes you're right," Alice agreed, "judging by the candles I'd say two hours ago is a good guess."

Juliet made a move to stand next to James. She was shivering. 

"What's wrong," he asked her. 

"I'm kind of scared," she replied softly, "this is all just getting too real. I'm afraid for Nathan, and what happened to this room? It looks like a hurricane came through here."

"I know, I'm scared for Nathan too. Something happened tonight. And there's something I need to tell you-" Alice shifted next to him, bumping him in the ribs and cutting off his train of thought.

"Hang on," she said as she moved James out of the way. She was gawking at the desk below her. A disheveled looking piece of paper lay flat on the table top, it looked more organized than anything else in the room, perhaps this was what the person was looking for. As James inspected the piece further he saw that it was actually a blueprint. A blueprint of the castle. He moved closer, now hovering over Alice's shoulder. 

"This looks like your library!" Alice exclaimed, as she picked it up to bring it closer to a candle. 

"What does?" Lucas inquired. 

He glided over to the rest of the group, nearly tripping over an overturned chair. Alice was right. It was a schematic of James's family media center. It showed the bookcases, tables, chairs, and even the four fireplaces in all the corners of the room. 

"Why would this be here?" James asked, more to himself. 

Everyone looked to him, wanting him to elaborate more, but when he didn't the room fell silent.    

James just had to think. A schematic of the library placed in plain sight. Was he somehow supposed to find it? Somebody obviously wanted him to go looking there. But for what? That part was still a mystery.     

He was heading out of the door when he heard Alice say;

"And where do you think you're going?"

"To the library, obviously," he said, "and bring that with you," he was pointing at the design.     

The media center of the castle was the pride and joy of the Linniad family. It was the largest part of the castle, and the most gorgeous for that matter. It was full of books of every genre from A to Z, and maps from every cultures. As well as a list of every famous person that had ever stepped foot in it.     

The group found themselves standing in front of the overlarge oaken doors to the room. Brass lion heads with rings jutting out of their mouths were used to open the entry. Once James and Lucas dragged them ajar they all stepped inside careful not cause any noise, in case anything was waiting for them. James was once again at the head of the group, walking slowly and treading lightly.     

Everything in the library looked dangerously expensive. The rug was made of pure Egyptian carpet, being the color of mahogany red. The books were over five hundred years old, and would probably turn to dust if one touched them. The fire places had beautifully crafted mantles where, at the moment, stockings hung from them. And, oddly enough, all the fireplaces were lit and burning brightly, as if someone had just been here. Chills ran up James's spine just thinking about that.     

Model airplanes hung from the ceiling, as well as about five different looking chandeliers. Glass display cases stood proud of what they held at the end of every bookcase. Sofas and recliners were placed everywhere there was room. And a nice set of them were stationed at every hearth, practically waiting to be sat in.     

"This place is so beautiful," Alice breathed. 

"It's absolutely perfect," Juliet gasped.  

James walked over to one of the bookcases. He picked up a book and began flicking through its pages. 

"What are you doing?" Lucas asked, coming to his side. 

"I'm looking for something, anything really," he answered sluggishly. 

His tiredness was beginning to set in again. 

"Where do we start?" Juliet asked from somewhere behind the two boys. 

James set the book down on a nearby table. He mulled his way to the couch that was nearest to the hearth. He was immediately occupied by a warm cozy feeling. The fire was low and gave an inviting atmosphere. The snow was attacking the windows now, pounding on them and leaving their frosty touches as they sat on either side of the fireplace.    

It was just James and Juliet now. Alice was off taking notes on just about everything, while a model 1969 Pontiac Firebird caught Lucas's eye from across the room. 

"James," Juliet began, "do you really think it's real. I mean everything."

She sat down on the love seat across from him. 

"Yes, I do," he replied while stretching, "I am a bit skeptical, but aren't we all?"

Juliet nodded absentmindedly. James got the feeling that her mind was elsewhere. She had a glossy expression and her hands and fingers kept fidgeting. 

"What's wrong?" he asked, moving forward in his seat. 

"I'm just . . . I'm just really scared."

James immediately moved from the sectional that he was sitting at to the love seat next to her. He put an arm around her as a sign of comfort. Her head fell gently into his chest.

"There's nothing to be scared of. At least, not right now," he whispered. 

"What do you mean?" she asked, her head perking up a little. 

"I mean . . . We have to be strong for Nathan. He needs us right now, and it's our job to help him."

Juliet sat up, causing James to retract his arm. 

"You're right," she said, "I can't be frightened, I have to be strong."

"That's the spirit," James said laughing slightly. 

"Let's help them look!" she stood up now.

"Wait!" James exclaimed, grabbing her by the arm. 

"What is it? I thought we should look for the," she stopped to think, "whatever it is."

"We will, but first I have to tell you something," James said seriously.    

He began to recount his dream. It was strange telling it to someone else. It was like watching a movie replay in his mind and he was just rattling off things that were happening. The dream was so vivid, like it was actually happening all over again. In fact, he could smell the summer night, and see the city, as if he were standing on the palace balcony again.    

"And then, he told me to wake up, because Alice wanted my attention," he finished. 

"You mean . . . He knew what was going on outside your dream?"

"Yes, he must've. Otherwise, how would he have known that Alice was going to be right there over my bed, trying to wake me up?"

"James, you were having a fit. We had to wake you up, it looked like you were seizing," Juliet said exasperated. 

James sat back down on the sofa. He was trying to think. Think of a possible answer to everything. 

"There was something. In my dream," he said looking up to see Juliet, "I felt like I was burning. The sun was so hot, it was like sitting in a microwave."

"Nathan was burned . . ." Juliet whispered. 

"Do you think it has anything to do with him though? I feel like they're connected in some way," James was frantic to find answers to everything. 

"I don't know," Juliet answered honestly, "maybe Alice would know something."

She began to walk towards the other two. James stood up so fast, the blood barely had time to return to his head before he grabbed her by the arm again. 

"We can't say anything to them!" he hissed. 

"What? Why not?"

He didn't know why. It just didn't seem like the right time. He didn't want to