WIP Story of mine, belongs to me wrote:Mr. Linden's Library
by Rivkah
It was a hopelessly humid day in May, and there was a defeated sense in the air. No one wanted to face the heat outside. Not willingly.
A girl walked down the street, ignoring the afternoon sun. She was determined to reach her destination. Hestia was her name. Her parents were professors of Greek and Roman mythology, so they named her after a goddess. But to her, it was simply a name, nothing else.
now, she journeyed to the public library through the heat, desperate for a new read. She was an avid reader and was naturally drawn to any book she could get her hands on. As Hestia got hardly any time with her preoccupied parents, her only friend was the library.
As she ascended up the stone steps and entered the quiet building, her heart soared. She belonged here. "My, my, Hestia, back again? That's the fourth day in a row!" Hestia turned and smiled at the aged librarian, Mr. Linden.
"Of course, we have such a long summer vacation, sir," she replied with a mischievous grin. They both laughed and she made her way to the deepest row of shelves.
And then she stopped short. She had seen a peculiar book among the others. It was glossed and gilded in a strange way, with a perfectly made, beautiful hard cover. With trembling hands, she reached for the gorgeous book, and slid it from its shelf.
Her pale fingers grasped the book protectively, and she left its shelf. Hestia felt and overwhelming sense. She did not want to read the book here, but safely examine it at home. She took the books out from the tote bag on her shoulder and dropped them down the deposit box.
Then Hestia gingerly placed the book in front of a smiling Mr. Linden. She looked up. Mr. Linden's expression had clouded over, and now he looked distraught and thoughtful.
"You really want this book, Miss Hestia?" he asked, turning over the book to look at it. There was no title or description, but that wasn't why he was puzzled. He was looking at Hestia like she was insane.
"Yes - Yes, sir, Mr. Linden." Hestia could feel a blush creeping up her chalk-white cheeks. He leaned forward, brows furrowed.
"I must warn you gravely, even if I am letting you borrow it, that no one should have found it. Maybe it was a bad hiding place, but still. No one has ever been able to tame and learn from that book but me. The only reason I keep it is for those who want a challenge. But don't blame me if you can't." Hestia nodded, swiped her library card, then left.
Her walk home carried excitement and impulse. She could almost hear the book calling, telling her to start reading! But that's how she felt about every book... She unlocked the door of her home and made her dinner. Clearing her plate afterward, she went on her way to bed.
After finishing in the bathroom, she donned on a nightgown. Hestia grasped the book and sat down on the bed. Shaking with anticipation, she let the cover fall back. Weird, she thought, there's no copyright, title, author, publisher...
Then she started to read. Her bewilderment rose. This book was almost whispering things from its pages, and she hung on to everything it said.
After a while, she wanted to read more, but felt herself lying down and shutting her eyes without another thought. And then she was asleep.
The book was wide open, and the pages fluttered feebly. Then from the spine and threading, little leaves sprouted. Whip-like vines snaked out of the book, wrapping themselves around their victim. She didn't stir.
They crawled up her arms and to her shoulders, tickling at her throat. Then they continued to move, entwining around and around in spirals along her neck. And before she would ever wake, they contracted.
They silenced their prey during her slumber. As a result, their secrets would stay safe. And then they retreated into the book.
pud / demigirl / pan
