Page 31 of Switched

She consults her list. “You don’t have any overdue books—yet. You can take this out, but Stiltskin books need permission from the headmistress.”

“Oh, I already have permission,” I say, feeling like a squeaky spinning wheel. “I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t.”

Helga glares at me. “I need it in writing.”

“I have it here somewhere.” If I pretend to rummage around in my sack, maybe she’ll assume I’m telling the truth. “I know I had it this morning. Which book did I put it in? Did I leave it in Spelling 101? Or Ferns: Our Greatest Allies? Let’s see… Oh, I don’t know where I put it.” I sound aghast. “But I do have one.”

“Uh-huh,” Helga says, looking doubtful. “Can’t give you a book without the note.”

Grrr…

“Not sure we even have one. The master took all the books we had on that man and kept them in his private study. He’s been studying Rumpelstiltskin for years.”

Prince Sebastian. Great. The one person at this school who might know what I need to know about Rumpelstiltskin would never share that info with me. Now what?

Helga glances up at the darkened floor for a spilt second, sees me staring, and looks away. “So like I said, no note, no book, not that there even is a book to take out.”

I lean over the counter to see if she’s telling the truth. “Are you sure? There has to be one book on him here. Every villain has a beginning, don’t they?”

Helga stares at me, and I stare back again. “Not all of them. Some are born evil.”

“Even so, they’d have a story or a book,” I press. “I doubt Beauty would stock a library as magnificent as this without any books on one of the greatest villains in our kingdom. The prince can’t keep them all! As a magical librarian, I doubt you’d allow that.” I smile serenely.

Helga glowers. “There is one, but it’s already checked out: Rumpelstiltskin: The Man vs. the Myth.”

I frown. “Who has it out?”

“I’m not at liberty to say.”

“Can I be put on a wait list?” I ask impatiently.

She taps the quill in her other hand. “I’ll ask.” We hear a crash from somewhere in the stacks.

“Helga? Can you help me?” Beauty calls.

Helga sighs. “She balances too many books in her hands. You’ll have to wait till I get back.” Helga flutters away at the slowest speed imaginable.

I wait till she’s gone before I jump over her desk and pick up her wand. Quickly tapping the scroll, I see the Rumpelstiltskin title again and look to see who has it checked out. Fiddlesticks, it says Classified! I hear another crash and tap the scroll again, making the title disappear.

“Now what?” I ask Wilson, who is hanging out in my pocket. “How can a library this big only have one book on Stiltskin? I can’t even order one from the village because they’d flag it.” I bang the wand against the library desk in frustration. “All I want to do is read a book about Rumpelstiltskin so I can help my sister and all the other missing kids. If I did, I know I’d be smart enough to figure out what he’s after and why!”

Wilson starts to squeak madly, and I look at the desk, which is starting to glow orange. I back away, wondering if I’ve set off some sort of alarm, but no sound comes. Instead, a small gold book with worn silver pages materializes in front of us. There are red scratch marks on the cover, along with what appears to be a bite out of the top corner of the book. I read the title: Curses and Dark Deeds: The Rumpelstiltskin Legend. That wasn’t the title Helga mentioned. Hmm.…

I lunge for the book, and Wilson nips me.

“Ouch!” I whisper, wishing I could yell. Wilson starts squeaking crazily. I calm down and try to understand him. “You’re worried that this book just showed up when I mentioned needing one. And you think I shouldn’t read it.” Wilson stops squeaking. “But what if the book showed up because it wants me to help Anna.” Wilson is quiet. “If it lets me pick it up, then I’m meant to have it. Why else would a book that isn’t even in the library catalog just appear?”

“I’ve got to help a girl fill out a book request sheet,” I hear Helga croak. “Otherwise I would be happy to help shelve more books.” Helga is coming back.

My heart starts to beat faster, and my palms begin to sweat as that familiar feeling of thieving comes over me. It feels like that brief high I’d get when I pinched something I needed and no one saw. I stare at the book again. I could read it tonight and bring it back tomorrow. If it’s not in the library catalog, no one will even notice it’s missing. I glance quickly around the library. There’s no sign of Beauty or other fairy librarians. I reach out slowly and touch the book jacket. If the book is alarmed, it will probably yell at me or spring to life. Nothing happens, so I test the waters further by throwing open the book flap. I jump back and waiting for a ghostly Stiltskin to pop out and yell at me. Nothing happens.

I give the surrounding area one last glance, then grab the book and drop it into my book bag, which I quickly tie together and sling onto my back. Then I hurry to the door.

“Gilly?” I stop short and turn around.

It’s Beauty. “Did you find everything you need already?”

“Yes, I did. Thanks!” A flash of lightning makes me jump. With that, I rush to the library exit. An alarm doesn’t go off.