Chapter 22: Chapter 22

“Have you seen the library of congress?” I asked.

“I haven’t.”

“It’s the largest library in the world. But I guess this place is larger.”

The ceiling of the library was so high that it almost reached my pride. Hanging from it were five gigantic, ancient chandeliers with the brightest light I’ve ever seen. Its diamonds glitter as light touches it.

We stood up and walked toward its bookshelves. I traveled my fingers through its edges to feel its texture. The curio cabinet with glass doors screams elegance. Master artisan constructed the wood with an antique finish. It contains three drawers of various sizes and six shelves for storing books or display decorations. It has a stylish accent for each living room.

The smell of old books lingers through my nostrils. It’s calling me to touch every page and experience its untold stories. My fingers darted on a hard object. It lost me with amazement that it didn’t bother me, not until blood emerged from the tip of my finger.

I shook my hand and wiped away my blood. It slightly stings. I blinked and saw a small figurine in front of me. It was smooth porcelain, molded with dark colors. It was a figure of Sojin’s kind. On its lap was a human being. The human’s head rested on its arms. It raised its right hand, holding a sword. It looks like he was trying to kill the human.

The lines on my forehead appeared as I analyzed the symbolism of the object. I guess the sword pricked my fingers.

The stiff wind passed by. It blew through my nape that I tilted my head and quavered. My peripheral vision played with me as I kept on feeling that someone was looking at me. I heard the soft sound of the whistle. My ears were attentive, and I positioned my feet in case someone attacked me at any angle.

I remained calm until the mysterious sound faded. Something doesn’t feel right. The feeling I have was familiar. It was a feeling I get when I am near to the chamber of death.

I heard the twisting of pages close to me, but no one was there. I looked up and saw a piece of paper falling down. The air reached its hands and led the dance as the paper moved delicately. It landed on the floor in slow motion, like a light feather.

I bent my knees and grabbed the paper. It was a part of a book, and they tore the page apart. The paper was golden brown; it aged through centuries and was handwritten. I squinted and tried to read what they wrote.

It says there that love bears the secret to immortality. He who loves shall live eternally. Amidst the curse of a missing piece, love shall bear a sacrificial being to find what was lost.

It sounds like a riddle to me, a riddle so clear, yet vivid. The answers slowly sank in my head as I connected the missing parts of my theory.

According to Sojin, they only love once. Based on the carvings on the wall, they need humans to fill the emptiness of their hearts. They were cursed not to have one, and only humans can give them love. If the one they love dies, or be taken away from them, they’ll die too. The figurine shows that their way of war was to kill the partners of their enemies. They need to hide their loved ones to survive, thus, humans are the key to their immortality.

It made sense to me. Sojin treated us well because he likes me. He’s trying to make me fall for him so he could have eternal life.

“That Jerk is such a user,” I murmured.

“User?”

I jumped in panic when someone tapped my shoulder. My back bumped on the shelf and the unbothered, shining, smooth glass broke the silence. The next thing we know, broken pieces of glass scattered all over the floor.

My mouth flung open while looking at Kylo. Her eyes shifted from me to the floor. She was holding a thick book.

“What did you do?” I mouthed with eyes wide opened.

“Sorry.”

I tiptoed my feet to avoid getting another wound from the sharp pieces. Kylo followed me as I hid behind a shelf a few meters away from those we accidentally destroyed.

“What’s with your sneaky eyes?” she asked.

I sighed and looked at her.

“We are not alone here.”

“Obviously, Sojin’s clan surrounds us.”

“I mean, we are not alone in this room.”

“Yeah. There might be a bookkeeper, considering the cleanliness of every corner.”

“And you’re chill about it?”

“They are not harmful like what you always say. I’ve read a book about their lifestyle,” she proudly said with her chin up.

“Yup. They are not harmful, but they will lock us up in this place. They will never let us out.”

Her brows furrowed.

“What nonsense is that?”

I gave her the piece of paper that I have read.

“We are the key to their immortality, Kylo. If we die, they die. Sojin needs my love for him to live eternally.”

“If that’s true, then there’s no such thing as eternal life because we are mortals. We can’t live forever. Seriously? What happened to your brain, Wagner?” she smirked.

I bowed my head and ruminated. How did I miss that point? But I know there’s something about humans. The babies… right!

“The babies! Have you read anything about their baby? Maybe they are the key. What happens when their genes are combined? Do babies become powerful?”

“You seem so excited about it. I don’t think they have powers.”

“Still, they are special. We have to figure it out. We might find the ritual on our way.”

She shrugged her shoulders in surrender.

We scanned each book to find anything that might lead us to the ritual or any clue about the Demis. They call their human child that way.

“Wagner, I think we’ve been here for too long. I’m bored. Libraries are not dating places for me to stay,” Kylo complained.

The ladder shrieked as I walked down while holding a small book. There was a ladder there to help us reach for the books placed on the highest drawer.

“As if you ever dated anyone,” I replied.

“Look who’s talking.”

“At least I don’t plan to.”

“What made that an edge?”

“Do I really have to explain? I can give you a research paper about my point. Well, thanks for the idea. I guess it’s better for me to publish a book entitled How not to love, The Beauty of Solitude, Single Blessedness, Kids are Atomic Bomb, Marriage is Crisis, The Deathly stare. I can give you a list if you’d ask for it.”

She rolled her eyes.

“You’re incurable,” she said in disappointment.

“It’s a blessing, Kylo. Seeing the world differently than others is a gift.”

I opened the book in my hand. It was colored white without a title or an author. There was nothing on its cover, so it intrigued me.

“Being an author doesn’t suit you,” she said.

“They don’t have to call me that. I’d prefer to be called the bearer of truth.”

The first page of the book says, for the lost souls. It was creepy, yet it made me want to read more. The second page says Non audent aperire. If only I didn’t ditch Latin class, I would’ve known its meaning and avoided the worst-case scenario.