The zodiac wheel dropped a few inches and my stomach swooped before the wheel beneath us started sailing down into the ground with us standing on top of it.
The moment we made it beneath the ground, another stone wheel slid into place above us, sealing the entrance and we were plunged into total darkness.
We continued to descend, a rumbling sound carrying around us and vibrating through my bones. Suddenly the darkness evaporated and all words abandoned me as I took in the crystal clear bubble we were inside, giving us a view out into the lake. But down here it wasn’t dark at all, it was full of dancing light and as a cluster of lights rushed past us, I realised they were fish. Silver, glowing fish that left gleaming trails in their wake.
I pressed my hand to the wall of the bubble, the surface like softened plastic, moulding to my hand as I pushed against it, but it didn’t give.
“It gets better,” Laini said excitedly. “Just you wait.”
We finally descended beneath the bottom of the lake, leaving the sandy bed behind along with the stunning fish which danced above our heads, and blackness surrounded us once more as we continued to plummet through the earth.
The darkness lifted and light spilled over us once more, a breath becoming trapped in my throat as we descended into a cavernous place the size of two cathedrals combined.
The beauty of this library seemed otherworldly, the walls were darkest grey and arching overhead in magnificent struts. On the four walls of the gigantic room were beautiful stone faces of women, each representing the Elements.
The one for earth was draped in moss and ivy, flowers blooming in her eyes and across her lips; the face for water had her mouth agape and a waterfall spilled from her lips all the way down to a glistening pool at the bottom of the library that sparked with light; the face carved into the rock for fire had eyes that were burning in brightest blue and streams of lava swirled within the cracks of the stone; lastly, the one for air was coated in white fluffy clouds and though her hair was carved of stone it somehow seemed to move and shift in a magical wind. Around each of them were stairways leading to bookcases built into the walls and tunnels led into the deeper passages of the library beyond them.
Below us, endless bookcases spiralled together, made of wood and stone and glass. There were bridges passing over the pool beneath the face of the water Elemental, each of them holding smaller bookcases which Fae were perusing.
The zodiac wheel beneath our feet landed at the heart of the cavern and I stared around in amazement at the place. Laini strode away into some of the stacks, guiding us along as I took in the incredible surroundings, not wanting to blink in case I missed something.
Butterflies danced in the air ahead of us, their wings tipped gold and leaving trails of light behind them like the fish had up in the lake. I looked around for Orion’s reaction, knowing how much he adored books and expecting to find a look of glee in his eyes, but there was only darkness there as we walked, and I was sure that had everything to do with the curse.
I took hold of his hand to reassure him, but he didn’t look my way, intent on following Laini as we passed between the ancient looking books on either side of us.
“We need to see any texts you have on the shadows, or dark magic,” Orion said, his eyes boring into the back of her head.
Laini glanced back at him with a nod. “Of course,” she agreed. “But come see my friends first, they’re dying to meet you.”
Orion looked ready to argue, but I tugged on his hand, giving him a look that told him to bite his tongue. They didn’t know I was cursed, and I sure as hell didn’t want to tell them either. We could spare a few minutes to say hello.
We rounded the stacks, arriving in a section where tables were laid out and Fae were sitting around reading. A girl with dark hair jumped up from her seat with a honk. My eyes widened in surprise at the noise and she quickly flattened herself to the floor to bow to me.
“That’s Brittny,” Laini announced just as another girl came running towards us with blue streaked hair. “This is Kandice.” The girl bowed low to me, her eyes darting towards Orion.
“This is so exciting,” Kandice squealed. Can I get you a beverage? Perhaps a snack? Or a foot rub? Brittny is great at them, aren’t you Brittny?”
Brittny opened her mouth to speak but a loud honk came out instead and she clapped a hand to her mouth, her cheeks reddening with embarrassment.
“She’s a moose shifter. She has a nervous honk,” Laini explained. “This is Eugene.”
“Hello.” A slim man rose from his seat, a shock of white hair on his head and a look of admiration in his eyes.