A Very Bad Luck

Leaning over the row of white riyak that overflows the Garden of Hubuscos, I curled my fingers around the little emerald. My hopes are somewhat crushed from what Eiran said last night.

I sighed heavily, this is my first two consecutive days off for this month. Two bags of elixir worth of savings thrown off to waste just so my boss can party in the masquerade ball. For sure, she has tried on hundreds of dresses to rip them off while trying them on. Her daily mantra always includes how much weight she is gaining from stress of finding a husband and anxiety that maybe I'll steal Mateo from her.

I tossed the singular weed I picked earlier into the basket full of hurika plants for the hex potion, my attention shifted to the nearby tree when my peripheral vision caught a shadow of a tall and well built man.

Memories of the past days had been a rollercoaster. Meeting Eiran was the stupidest yet most exciting thing I've ever experienced.

I've only known bits of him, but I felt more. I can feel familiarity, deep emotions and anguish. That's why I can't fully trust him yet, he may be someone that can bring me harm.

I jumped from the second floor window from his room without even a note to bid goodbye. I was in a hurry, exactly four in the morning when Luke leaves for the academia. My mom would punch me if I fail to bring him the books for his school.

"Thought I might see you here," the soft familiar voice uttered. I smiled, swifting my gaze to her.

"Heyy, sudden day off?"

Her face fell, the smile wrinkles all gone. She bit her lip and avoided my gaze.

My brows knitted.

Then finally she turned towards me, her eyes glistening with tears, "The library– it was burned, I d-don't know how they did that," Her voice barely audible from retorts of her cry.

"How…how did that happen!?"

I can't even formulate words to ask her. I was there, almost everyday. Gods, I can't even believe Vienel, but her tears proved every speculation. She worked there almost half of her life. It must be so devastating to see it crumple into ashes.

Her tired eyes leveled towards the cast of weeds and flowers overflowing the garden. "It was some townspeople. Some saw traces of Arsuelans. They said that it was bad luck for our town and it must be the fates behind the appearance of the creatures. Everyone was a-afraid," she sniffled between words.

I tensed.

"Maybe it's some sort of misunderstanding?" I swallowed my saliva to comfort my throat from breath restrictions.

"They left a note! It was carved out in the back door." Her shoulders started to shake from her cries.

My heart stuttered, "What does it say?"

She looked at me with a serious face, "Frequent habits to library, dot, dot, dot we will hunt every piece of her."

"Gods," I whispered.

Eiran told me that the Arsuelans might be following me since the execution. He was brought by the scent and presence of the creatures to the back door of the library.

"You didn't notice anything odd? I think you're only the one who knows about the back door, you know, I don't want you to always wait in the front doors."

I nibbled my lip, "I d-didn't, I must have reported it right away," I spitted the lie slowly, tasting the acidic burst in my mouth.

"Right," she trailed off, staring at me.

"It must be some sort of thief or whatever," she continued.

I sighed in relief, at least my best friend doesn't suspect me. "Or anyone who loves playing around. That could be it."

I shouldn't feel relieved in any way possible, but I did. I'm in a serious danger, it must be an error or somewhat kind of mix with their part. Why would the Fates find me in the realm?

Is it connected with my nightmares that felt so surreal?

"All my hard work is done. That's my life taken away from me, being a librarian where I'm comfortable in my own town. Why would they? It's…it's unacceptable."

"They were terrible people, Vienel, but hey, you're a very good librarian. Maybe some libraries would offer you a contract out of town! It would be fun." I suggested but deep inside I just don't know what to say.

"I don't know anymore Shiloh," she sighed then wiped her nose with the sleeve of her shirt.

"Gods, those persons must be detained for burning the only library of the town. Just thinking of the books and testaments burning to ashes is so hard to stomach." I said, my eyes wandering at the walking lilies out of the small pond and now playing with the dandelions.

Vienel was quiet for a moment.

"What do you know?

My head swung back to her. "What do you mean?"

She searched my eyes, trusting that if I lost my grip on my intuition, I would look away. Or if I did see something, I wouldn't tell her.

"You don't seem very surprised or even afraid."

"I don't?" I retorted.

"The stories about the Arsuelans always freaked you out. The bugs and everything," her sad smile turned into a cheeky one.

"I'm not scared of them anymore," I shrugged.

"So help to cheer me up. Let's eat at the bug contest at the festive."

I opened my mouth, but words abandoned me. I was such a pathologically terrible liar. My mouth hangs openly.

I rolled my eyes, "Whatever, I just have a lot in mind."

"About what?"

"The cure you had given me."

The peaceful garden was coated with lovely laughs of water lilies trying to get up on their heels while playing hide and seek. Always freaks me out to think that some of them are playing wildly in day time, and some unfortunate are asleep so people can grab them without particularly killing them instantly.

"What about it?"

My eyes peered to her, "Where would I find a freaking vampire semen, and we're not sure if it'll work out eventually."

She stood up, "You know what, just swallow your ego and go to Mateo. You know he had answers to your questions, just ask him for a cure you know. He would know."

Mateo.

He has a very fishy persona. But why would I even complain, this for my father. And I would always risk everything just to heal him.