Chapter 3: The New Librarian

It was just a few minutes after sunset, the sky was lit up with purple and red, where the sun was setting behind the hills. It was beautiful if someone had the time to look at it. I passed through, not bothering to look at it, tho. As I walk down the familiar streets of Eldermere. It seems peaceful, but the reality is not so much. The cobblestone path was lit by a dim lamplight, the store windows were dark but still inviting, and there was a smell of woodsmoke in the cool evening air.

But I knew better than to trust the town's peace at this moment. Peace in Eldermere was only a facade, quickly shattered by the truth beneath. The night's events still held sway over me, nagging at me, refusing to let go. It kept running through my mind, and even though I tried to push them away, these rumours of something ancient and evil. It was my duty to protect this town, no matter what. No matter how much it consumed me, it was my responsibility.

When I reached the town square, my two men stood there, waiting under the old oak. Samuel and Ethan, my deputies, were a sight to behold, even from this distance. Samuel looked on edge, his arms crossed over his chest. Ethan's usual good-natured grin was gone, and his brow furrowed with the same weight I felt on my chest.

"Zack," Samuel said, his voice sounding strained. "We've got a problem. "

"When don't we? " I mumbled as he came up beside me, his boots scraping against the rough stones underfoot.

 "What is it this time? " Ethan shifted uncomfortably and glanced around as though the shadows were listening. "We've been asking around about Jacob," he said.

"There were figures seen out near the old mill."

"What kind of figures?" I asked sharply, narrowing my eyes. "Hooded ones," Samuel replied grimly. "Moving through the woods at night. People are starting to talk about cults. Rituals. That sort of thing.

"My jaw tightened, the word cult striking a nerve. "How long has this been going on?" "It's hard to say for sure, "Ethan said, running his hand through his hair. "But there is a new girl who just moved here. Her name's Amelia Davenport. She's the librarian, and she's been reading all the legends and all the history about this place. "Some people around here think that she might find something that could be useful."

"The new librarian?" I asked again, letting her name roll around in his head. I hadn't met her yet, but if she'd been studying Eldemire's history, she might have known more than I do, could be helpful to find out. "Where is she now, at the library?" I asked aloud. But I didn't wait for an answer. I turned and walked toward the library. The building was at the far end of the square, its brick walls covered in ivy that rustled in the breeze. There was something ancient about it, foreign like it came from another world. As I opened the heavy door, the smell of leather-bound books and old, musty paper filled the air.

It was very quiet inside. The only sound was the rustle of pages turning somewhere more profound in the room. "Hello?" I called out, my voice low but firm. "Just a moment!" came a cheery voice, but the books on the table kind of muffled it. And then she came in. She almost glides into the room like a ballerina, her auburn hair glinting as it falls in loose waves around her shoulders. Her hazel eyes met mine, bright and curious, and for a moment, I forgot entirely why I was there. She must be the most beautiful creature I have seen in centuries. 

"You must be Sheriff Lawson?" She said, smiling as she shook my hand. "I've heard a good deal about you," she said, her voice full of interest and admiration. I could feel how firm her handshake was as I shook her hand.

"Zack" in a rough, commanding voice. Then added,

"Just Zack." "Well, just Zack," she said, smiling easily, "what are you doing in the library tonight anyway? Are you looking for something to read, or are you looking for something else?" Her flirty tone caught me completely off guard, but I don't show it. "I need your help," I said simply.

 "There's trouble in town with disappearances and weird sightings. People think it might be connected to a cult. I hear you've been reading up on local legends. I hope you've come up with something useful that could shed some light on the case." Amelia's smile dissolved into something more serious. "I have, yes. Been reading about Eldemire's history quite a bit," she said. "Some of it has been very disturbing," she said. "Rituals and ancient symbols and dark entities, all linked to the land."

I clenched my jaw. I knew she knew something, but hearing it from her made it hurt worse than I expected. "Can you show me?" I asked. "Of course," she said, smiling. "I've been meaning to put up the older texts for some time now." So, she said, "Follow me." She led me to a long oak table where stacks of books and loose papers were lying in an organised mess. As she began sorting through them, I watched her closely. There was a quiet determination in how she worked, a focus that reminded me much of my own.

 But there was more, something warm and human, something I hadn't been in years. "What are you doing at Elder mere? " I asked, startling myself as much as her. Amelia paused, her hand resting on the edge of the old book. After a moment, she spoke. "I needed a change," she said. "I've always loved small towns, their stories and secrets. There's something... grounding about them."

I nodded, but I knew she still didn't know nearly enough about the town she'd chosen. I am sure my knowledge of this town spans much longer and may be more detailed. "Eldemire's got secrets," I said in a smoky voice, "and some of them aren't worth knowing. Trust me. Amelia cocked her head to one side and studied me in a way that made me feel exposed in a way I had never known before.

"But you're still here," she said. "Why?" she asked. I stopped momentarily, feeling the centuries of this town's history pressing down. "Because someone has to be, "I said decisively. Her gaze stayed on me a moment longer than it should have before she broke the silence between us. "Well," she said softly, "maybe together we can work out what is going on. I'll keep digging through these files, for there has to be something, some link we are missing." I nod, relieved that she was being so practical. And knowing what the link could possibly be. "If you find anything, even the smallest scrap of info, anything at all, you'll come to me first. Do you understand?"

"I see," she said, lips curling into a little smile. "And you will do the same, I assume?" she asked, in a gentle yet determined voice. As we worked together, the room grew smaller, and the outside world faded away. I was drawn to her in a way that felt both dangerous and inevitable. She was a light in my darkness; for the first time in longer than I could remember, I felt something like hope. As the darkness grew outside the library's windows, I couldn't help but think that there wasn't much time left. Eldermere was getting darker by the minute. Deep down, I knew that protecting this town would also mean Amelia. 

This just might have become harder than I thought.