Chapter 7: An Offer You Can't Refuse

As they descended the spiral staircase, Sol noted the air was neither cool nor hot. Neither did he find it humid nor dry. It was perfectly comfortable and fresh.

"I've worked in the library for two years, and I've never seen this doorway, or this passage," Sol said as they walked quietly further down. None of them really knew where they were going, and the way out had closed almost as soon as they had walked through.

There was light along the passage, but it was not from any sort of light bulb. There were sconces in the wall that simply held balls of light. Not lamps. Not burning torches. Just balls of light.

Peppi was walking in front, but stopped abruptly and reached into the sconce. "I have to touch one. What the hell are they?" They all caught their breath as her hand passed through the light painlessly.

"That's probably radioactive. You shouldn't touch it." Cassiel said.

"It doesn't hurt, Cash," Viv said, trying it herself.

They became bored with this quickly and started moving again. It was clear that whatever technology or magic powered this place did not operate by any rules they were familiar with. Slowly the staircase widened and spilled out into a large mezzanine.

The floor appeared to be polished marble or granite. Symbols and words appeared etched in gold here or there. Sol understood none of them, many appeared ancient to his eyes.

At the end of the mezzanine was a large archway that opened into a chamber so vast, Sol suspected you could fit three stadiums inside. Looking around the perimeter of the circular structure it was clear the archway and hall they stood in was one of many connecting to the central chamber.

"I've never seen so many books in all my life," said Sol.

As his eyes focused in, he could make out rows, stacks, podiums and towers of books in the space below. In the center was a giant glowing podium. It was an altar of sorts.

"This way," said an unfamiliar voice as it drifted by on the wind.

"Who said that?" Felicity demanded to the air.

"Be not afraid, child. Come."

The voice came from several directions and one at the same time.

Pat pointed to the pillar. "I think it wants us to go there."

They all nodded uncomfortably remembering the voice outside while trying to decide if they should obey.

"They cannot harm you in here. Come to me, my chosen ones."

The voice did not sound malicious.

"I'm creeped out," Peppi said as Sol put his hand on her back.

"We should at least see what it wants. If it controls the doorways, we might not be able to get out without its help," he pointed out softly. He assumed it could hear everything they said.

With that their eyes found the staircases leading down to the pit and they made their way into the stacks of books.

They were not arranged in any semblance of order. Some appeared to be of the same language, but most were unintelligible to any of their eyes. Not only were the scripts and words unfamiliar, but they didn't look like languages any of them had even seen in textbooks.

Some were stacked vertically in piles, others in shelves. The bookshelves themselves were highly irregular. Each seemed to be unique with craftsmanship that ranged from basic to incredibly ornate. Some of the bookshelves had trinkets on them - letter openers, bobbles, jewels or keys.

"We are not in Kansas anymore," Peppi said under her breath.

"Uhh, we live in Maine?" said Pat loudly.

"It's an expression... from a movie," Peppi said as her eyelid twitched. "Did he really not know that?" she asked Sol under her breath.

Sol just pursed his lips and motioned for her to keep walking. Pat was in a good mood and he wanted to keep him that way.

"But seriously. There's no way this is underneath the library. This would be under half the town," Peppi thought out loud. After a while there was nothing but the echo of their feet tapping against the marble.

"My watch isn't working," Cash noted. "Looks like the power is dead."

"I told you, you would break it." Viv said with a snort. "It probably sparked when the building was shaking earlier."

"No. I checked it before we went through the arch," Cass countered absently.

They all checked their pockets and backpacks to find similar results.

"Don't be afraid. Come, my chosen ones," the voice was stronger this time.

They found their way to the center. A large area, perhaps 40m, was completely bare of books and shelves. In the center lay a large circular altar and before it two small pillars, one with a book resting on it.

The spirit, if that's what it was, seemed to combine from vapor atop the pillar on the left, while the book resided on the right. To describe it as light would be incomplete, for it also held shadow and smoke in its folds. Sheets of light, almost glass-like in appearance seemed to fold inward at odd angles, disappearing into shadows and prisms hiding behind folds of smoke.

"Be not afraid. You have been chosen for a purpose that only the worthy are called to. Your destiny is foretold in the stars. Come!"

They stepped even closer.

"Who... are you?" Sol asked, standing before all of them. The two pillars stood before a massive disk on a ledge maybe five feet high. A small set of stairs led up to the pillars.

"Come, and see," it replied.

And Sol obeyed. The top of the stairs were level with both pillars, such that one could stand facing either at the top. They huddled together there, and looked down at the figures carved into the massive disks. All appeared to be mythical beasts.

"I see you, but I do not know what you are," Sol said, speaking for the group.

"I am a spirit of knowledge, passed on from antiquity to the present in order to preserve the ordering of human events. I am bound to this library with the charge of protecting humans when they are threatened by demonic powers. Whenever and wherever this is needed, I am there to answer the call of the worthy. I heard your call, and I am here."

"Who called you?" Felicity said, finding her voice. "I didn't."

"You all did - In your souls," it continued, "and I answered because I found you to be worthy of the offer I am about to make you."