The Librarian: A Remnants of Magic Novel (The Librarian of Alexandria Book 2) by Casey White (read ebook pdf txt) 📕

“Your options suck,” he said at last.  He couldn’t agree to either of Rickard’s offers.  He was the Librarian.  His predecessors were already rolling in their graves at the mess he’d made of this—if he turned himself over to mages willingly, he wouldn’t put it past them to reach out of the grave and throttle him where he stood.

No.  He owed it to their memories to keep the secrets.  He owed it to Alexandria.

Do you?  The thought was a tiny, traitorous whisper, lurking in the back of his mind where fear rose hot and fast.  Why?  You didn’t agree to this.  She’s only used you, just like the rest of them.

Unbidden, his eyes flicked over to Leon.  To him, and James, and Maya.

If he kept this up, if he fought for Alexandria to the end, it wouldn’t just be him paying the price.  His friends would suffer alongside him.  They could die.

Alexandria is responsible for them being here.  She put them in harm’s way.  Let her take the responsibility now, before-

“Librarian?” Rickard said, softer still.  “I understand that this decision is difficult, and I will allow you time to think, but your answer is required before-”

Images flashed behind his eyelids.  Of Leon and James, running.  Of Maya, cowering behind the steering wheel, eyes terrified.

But...they’d come so far.  They’d made it through everything up until now.  If he surrendered, gave himself over, then everything came to an end.  The life he’d made would be gone for good.

And he wasn’t willing to give up the ghost just yet.

A warmth welled up in his chest, spreading like a blanket thrown around his shoulders.

“No,” Daniel said.

Silence.  And then, “Librarian.  I do not believe you have-”

“There’s no way,” Daniel said.  “You’re crazy if you think I’m going to stop just because you told me to.”

“If you continue this farce, there will be consequences.  Please.  One last time, I extend our offer to-”

“Fuck off,” Daniel said.  His limbs felt lighter and airier than they had in years.  His head spun.  He was doing this, wasn’t he?

Again, Rickard sighed.  He muttered something under his breath, too soft for Daniel to make out.  But with his gentle whisper holding the line open, Daniel heard something else.

Voices.  More voices.

And the sound of an engine revving higher.

His blood chilled.  The warmth that’d risen in his chest vanished, gone in a heartbeat, turning to an icy wind that swept from his head to his toes.

Danger, it shrieked.  It sang all the way to his bones, louder and louder.  Danger.

His legs twitched.  They needed to leave.  He didn’t know why, but-

“D- Owl?” Leon said.  “What the- A-Are you okay?”

Daniel glanced over.  His friend leaned in, his face a mask of confused fear.

For a moment, he could see his eyes reflected in Leon’s—glowing a bright, vivid blue-green.

With a final gleam across Leon’s skin, the glow faded out.  Just as quickly, the spell holding him in place vanished.  Daniel snapped the phone shut, closing out Rickard’s continued complaints, and tossed it back to Olivia.  “We need to go.  Now.”

“What?” James said, right as Maya said “You should sleep.”

“Right now,” Daniel snapped, balling up his fists and gathering up his strength.  “Before-”

His heart skipped a beat.  The motel room was almost-silent, with everyone watching him in shock.  Even that shouldn’t have been enough—because under the silence, somehow, impossibly, he could still hear the roar of that engine getting closer.

Fast.

- Chapter Twenty-Four -

“Daniel?” Leon said. “What’s-”

“Quiet,” Daniel said, still frozen in horror.

No. It wasn’t his imagination. When he listened out into the growing evening, he could still hear it—the steady roar of an engine.

Indira’s engine.

Rickard’s engine.

“But I thought you said-”

“Right.” Daniel twisted, levering himself to his feet. “Have to go. Right now.”

“What did she say?” Olivia whispered. “I-I mean, I know things between you and Indira are—tense—but I didn’t think-”

“She said the usual,” Daniel said, lurching to his feet. Leon was by his side in a flash, sliding his arm behind Daniel’s back. Together, they staggered forward.

Daniel reached out as soon as they were close enough, taking the dingy, stained curtain between two fingers. “It’s not her I’m worried about, though,” he murmured.

Slowly, as gently as he could, he pulled the curtain away from the window pane.

In the blink of an eye, the purr of the engine died off, as though a switch had been flipped.

Or a key.

“Shit,” Daniel whispered. Run, something inside him screamed. Get away, before it’s too late.

“What do you mean?” he heard Olivia say.

“What’s going on?” James rumbled. He and Maya stood farther back, visibly confused.

“Someone else took the phone,” Daniel said. “Guy called Rickard.”

“The Bookbinder’s rep,” Olivia said with a groan. “He’s-”

“A mage,” Daniel said. His eyes swept across the parking lot outside. Maya’s car sat right where they’d left it, all but alone on the asphalt. “Or someone with them, anyway. He’s normal. Ish. But he wanted-”

His voice died. He swallowed hard, trying to work past the lump in his throat. How could he put it into words? The choice that Rickard had put before him?

“He wanted what?” Leon said. “What was he-”

“Never mind,” Daniel mumbled. “Point being. He exposed himself by calling me. He took the next step. And he wouldn’t have taken that step unless-”

Again, his breath hitched. The world outside was bleak and dark—but figures moved in the shadows. Figures that moved from the alleys and side yards of the scant, run-down businesses around them. Figures headed in their direction.

“They’re here,” Daniel said. His heartbeat thundered. “We need to go. We need to get to the car, now.”

“Shit,” Maya gasped. “O-Okay. I’ve got my keys.”

“James, help me,” Leon said. “He’s going to be slow.”

“I’m fine,” Daniel snapped, stumbling forward. “Let’s just-”

But as Maya darted forward, reaching for the door, a light split the scenery before them. A light coming on?

No, Daniel realized. Or rather, yes, but not a street lamp or a light over someone’s door. The light came from a ball of raw