Page 48 of Echoes of the Banshee

Not the library either. I should abort this mission.

She goes behind the library.

Wait, behind the library? Is she spiritborne?

Then I see Zair and his face lights up. He falls into step beside her.

It’s her.

Thea.

His witch.

Of course she’s a witch.

Thea

Good Thing I’m Disposable

Zair has an away game today. I decide to use this uninterrupted time to figure out more about the ritual that killed me… will kill me? Whatever. Time travel. I grab an assortment of books on souls, healing rituals, and time travel before heading to my nook. The musty scent of old pages fills the air as I dive in, flipping through pages with feverish determination. The hours blur as I read, absorbing each passage and scribbling frantic notes, but despite the wealth of information, nothing useful surfaces. Every chapter feels like it’s leading me down a different rabbit hole, but none of them feel like the right path.

The book on dark rituals I’m reading has an appendix with a list of further reading. I write down the ones that I think are most likely to help and start walking down the aisles. When I can’t find them there I try the card catalogue. Seriously, we need to upgrade to a computer system. Still nothing.

Adora thought the librarian was mean, but she thought everyone was mean. Rumor has it he’s a Strix. I decide to figure it out for myself and approach him.

“Good morning, sir,” I whisper and still get a glare. The air feels colder near him. Like standing near a grave.

“What do you need?” he asks in a condescending tone.

“I’m looking for some books and can’t find them in the aisles or card catalogue.” I pass him the paper with the titles.

“If we don’t have the books, you can request them.” He passes the paper back to me.

“Okay, I’d like to request these?” I smile.

He gestures to some forms and I start to carefully fill one out. Hm, first question is species, that seems irrelevant.

Then coven, pack or tribe. Skipping that. I write down the books that I want and then pass it back to him, he looks annoyed I actually filled it out. His eyes slowly scan the paper.

“You’re a witch?” he asks looking at me incredulously.

“Last I checked.”

He makes a noise with his tongue and looks down.

“You didn’t list coven, are they embarrassed by you or did they already kick you out?” He smiles sweetly and passes the page back.

Adora was not wrong, he is an ass. I’m surprised anyone gets library books if this is what it takes to request them.

“Embarrassed,” I reply and write Ashgrave. My stomach in knots at the thought.

His jaw drops open when he sees it. Looking down and back a few times with unnaturally yellow eyes. Maybe he really is a Strix.

“You’re from the Ashgrave coven?” his voice trembles. Guess he’s met Vivien.

“Yes, second daughter of Vivien Ashgrave.” I swallow bile.

“I’ll get these ordered right away. So sorry, Miss Lockwood.” He stands and nearly bows as I walk away, confused.