Page 25
Lucien takes a pen from his pocket and scrawls something on the page. Perhaps something like [email protected]
The look he gives her when he passes back the paper, allowing his fingers to brush hers, is sinful. It’s the way Kole looks at Nova – like he wants to devour her, fuck her, and save her. From the world. From himself. Like he wants every part of her, and even if he has them, they will never be enough.
Thornfield… more like ‘horn-field’, I whisper inside my own head, chuckling at my joke.
“In the meantime,” I say pointedly, clearing my throat and tweaking my eyebrows.
Thornfield looks at me as f he’s forgotten why the hell we’re here. Then his eyes twitch in recognition and he says, “Right, the books. You remember this one?” he asks, showing Luna the photo on his phone again.
She nods. “I do, but I can’t remember where it is. Perhaps upstairs.” She looks at the stairs hesitantly. Something shimmers in the air around her. She hurts too much. She’s trying to find the energy to climb them.
Again, a pang of empathy grips my stomach.
“Do you mind if I take a look? You and Tanner take the downstairs, I’ll take upstairs. Might be quicker.” He checks the time on his phone. “I’m sure you’ll be wanting to close up soon.”
With a smile that relaxes her shoulders, Luna says, “Yes, thank you. Go on up.”
She watches him leave, then casts her eyes back to me and says, “Tanner? You’re friends… or…?”
Does she think we’re a couple? “Colleagues,” I reply, noticing the slight softening of her gaze.
“Well, Tanner, if you could hold the ladder, I’ll check the top shelves back here. I’d imagine Professor Thornfield’s book is one of the rare editions we keep out of the way of the main stock.”
“Have you worked here long?” I ask as she ascends the ladder. She’s wearing a long skirt, the kind I’d expect someone twenty years older to wear, and a pale pink sweater tucked into the hem that – almost – makes it more fashionable.
Not that I’m the king of fashion.
I look down at my slightly crumpled tee and scruffy jeans. Still, Nova likes them.
Adjusting her glasses on her nose again, Luna starts to examine the spines on the top shelf.
“Since it was taken over,” she says. “I used to spend a lot of time here. Just because I loved the smell of the books. Being around old things is… comforting.”
I have to stop myself making a joke about her liking Lucien.
“It was taken over?” I ask, holding the ladder steady as we hear Lucien’s footsteps moving back and forth above us.
Luna nods absentmindedly, pulling out a volume that isn’t the one we’re looking for then tucking it back. “For years, it was home to collections of children’s books and antique volumes. A few years ago, it was taken over by a new owner who was more interested in…” she hesitates, searching for the word, “occult material.”
“Suits the name better, I guess,” I offer.
Luna nods. “Oh, definitely.”
“And that’s when you started working here?”
She nods. “I’ve never met my boss though.” She laughs a little. “The whole place was closed down, locked up tight. I walked past one day and saw a sign in the window asking for staff. Just an email underneath. We had a video interview.” She shudders visibly. “I hate those things, and Mr Hyde’s connection was so bad he couldn’t use his camera.” She laughs again. “So, I’ve worked for him for three years and don’t even know what he looks like.”
Something snags in my brain. I cast my eyes up to the ceiling, and press my lips together. “Is that right?”
“Ah ha,” she says. Then again, “Ah ha!”
“You’ve got it?” I ask as she pulls out a dark blue leather bound volume and waves it in the air.
As she waves it she wobbles. I reach out to steady her, and before I’ve managed to help her down, Lucien is there. At my side. Staring daggers into the side of my face.
He takes the book from Luna’s hand then helps her down while I stand aside.
“Is this the one?” she asks.
